Bristophon

Description:

The Bristophon was invented by William Henry Bristol (1859-1930), a mechanical engineer who, with his father and brother, established the Bristol Co. in Waterbury, Ct. According to advertisements, the Bristophone “Electrifies the ordinary phonograph and gives it the tone range, sweetness and volume of the new ‘phonic’ instruments.”

Ref: William H. Bristol, “Electric Reproducing Apparatus for Phonographs,” U.S. Patent 1,490,764 (April 15, 1924).

Ad for the Bristophon in Radio Retailing (Oct. 1926).

Ad for Bristophon in Radio Doings 10 (March 12, 1927): 21.

“Prof. W. H. Bristol, Dead,” New York Times (June 19, 1930), p. 21.

Location: Currently not on view

Place Made: United States: Connecticut, Waterbury

See more items in: Medicine and Science: Medicine

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: The University of Maryland Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: MG.306749.03Catalog Number: 306749.03Accession Number: 306749

Object Name: bristophon

Physical Description: brass (overall material)Measurements: overall: 4 1/4 in x 10 in x 3 1/4 in; 10.795 cm x 25.4 cm x 8.255 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ad-425b-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_1397068

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.