PHONOLITHOS

Lithographs on Toy Tin Phonographs

 

The transfer of ink from a metal plate (replacing the stone used in the traditional lithography process) to a rubber roller and then transferred onto the tin is called "offset lithography" and it's what was used to lithograph toy tin phonographs. See tinplatetimes.com for its history and many examples of printing lithographs onto tinplate toy trains.

This gallery contains examples of toy tin phonographs and their colorful lithographs.

 

Bingophone II circa 1925 Germany - Octogon panels 10" diameter gramophone

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bingophone II circa 1925 Germany - Octogon panels 10" diameter gramophone

 

 

 

 

Bingophone circa 1920's

 

 

 

Gama Phola - German toy phonograph manufactured in 1920's

 

 

 

 

(1) The Bing Corporation in New York, which was the American branch of the German company called Bing Werke (Gebrüder Bing AG) in Nuremberg. In 1925 the Bing Corporation introduced its own gramophone called Bingophone. (Courtesy of the 78rpm-Club)

 

 

"Vikyphone" Toy Gramophone, c. 1925, Germany, clockwork, lithographed animal motifs with nice image of frogs and a gramophone.

 

 

"The National Band" Toy Gramophone, c. 1925, Gama, Georg Adam Mangold, Fürth, Germany. (Courtesy Auction Team Breker)

 

 

 

Dutch Toy Gramophone, c. 1925 "In Holland Staat een Huis"; lithographed tin, decorated with dancing couples in Dutch costumes, German reproducer, spring-driven. (Courtesy Auction Team Breker)

 

 

Dixyphone - German toy phonograph manufactured in 1920's

 

 

 

Lemiphone - See Lemiphone for the lithographs that go around the base.

 

 

 

Kiddyphone - Mfg by Bing - German Toy Phonograph Manufacturer c. 1925

 

Credits

 

 

 

Keimola - Made in Germany

 

 

 

"Keimola Teddy" Toy Gramophone, c. 1925 Germany, no. K808, Keim & Co., Nuremberg, lithographed tin, spring-driven. Courtesy Auction Team Breker)

 

 

 

Bingola I

 

 

 

Bingola II, 1925

 

Little girl and dog with Bingola II, ca. 1925

 

 

 

Bing Pigmyphon (green model) circa 1925

 

Bing Pigmyphon (white model) circa 1925

Disclaimer

 

 

Pigmynette Record Albums No. I - VI for Bing Pigmyphon

 

 

Pigmyphone circa 1925

 

 

 

Tin Toy Gramophone made in Germany circa 1925

 

 

 

 

Niftyola style gramophone (unmarked)

 

 

 

Genola – General Phonograph Company, Elvira, Ohio. EM

Genola

 

 

 

Nirona Gramophone circa 1925 Silhouette Lithographs

 

 

 

 

 

Reflecta-Gem – Made in England but based on the German Nirona, circa 1923

The decoration of the Reflecta-Gem is designed to exploit the Egyptian "Tut-mania" craze that was sweeping the world after British archaeologist Howard Carter and his workmen entered the tomb of King Tutankhamen in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt on November 26, 1922.

See "Tut-Mania and The Phonograph" for more examples of the commercialization of King Tut by the Phonograph Industry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Made in Germany circa 1920s - Trademark unidentified

Disclaimer

 

 

 

Olaphon – Made by Weco ca. 1925's

 

 

 

 

Portofonic, New Fono Drumette, J. Chein & Co., circa 1930's, 78rpm record player. The 13” diameter by 4 ¾” tall tin lithographed drum body is titled “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”

 

 

 

 

"Good Luck Melody Box" Tin Toy Phonograph, c. 1925 - Made in Germany

 

 

 

 

 

The Talking Machine World, August 1923

 

 

The Fairy Phone - Leipziger Company, Nuremberg, Germany

 

 

 

Bing Octophone, Germany ca. 1925

 

 

 

 

 

Phonographia