Edison Gem

The GEM was the baby of the Edison Phonographs. Introduced in February 1899 its early models only came in black (just like Henry Ford's later Model T). The GEM Model A was offered to the public at $7.50 as a metal machine with no carrying case or base. The Edison GEM on display here, the Model D, was introduced in October 1909. Known as "The Red GEM" or "The Maroon GEM" or "The Combination GEM", it was the only GEM expressly designed to play both 2 and 4-minute records.

Previous models of the GEM had a GEM transfer on the front. The maroon GEM replaced that transfer with Edison. The Model A GEM came standard with a 10 in. black japanned conical horn. The maroon horn that came with the Model D was a two-piece horn that screwed together. This same style horn was also sold with the Edison FIRESIDE model. Flowered horns were not an original feature of this horn and the machine in this room had flowers added at some later time. No GEM ever had a spring barrel and therefore could not be wound up while playing.