1924: The
First Drop Changer and Pioneer of the Jukebox Industry:
Deca-Disc and Electramuse
Many thanks to Mark Williams for allowing me access to his
machines,
and to Bill
Butterfield for additional information and photographs
The Deca-Disc and Electramuse coin-operated phonographs of
the 1920s are the very first record changers – using a
sophisticated drop changer mechanism – and one of the earliest
disc jukeboxes offered on the
This first drop changer with its intricate engineering
achieved a superb level of sophistication that no other drop
changer ever achieved:
·
The record is not dropped, but picked
up by raising the platter.
·
The platter slightly lowers for each
additional record, so that the top record always plays at the
same elevation. This ensures a constant vertical tracking angle
(VTA)
·
After the last record, the platter
lifts all records back up into the magazine, thus allowing for
continuous play (a continuous changer.) No restacking or
reloading is required.
·
All records are cradled in individual
aluminum record trays. This prevents edge chipping during change
cycle, damage during drop, warping of records in high
temperatures and the slipping of the top record during play.
However, although the mechanism was originally designed as a
record changer with some suggestions for home use, all
production models were only offered as a coin operated
sequential jukeboxes, with no provision to use the machine as a
continuous-play record changer.
The Deca-Disc
Phonograph Co. and the Deca-Disc Jukebox
The
Deca-Disc is a small upright phonograph with a case made from
plain quartersawn oak and a glass top. A small grille in the
front is the horn/ loudspeaker opening.
It plays
five 10” records in drop sequence, and automatically restacks
the magazine. Initially, the amplification was acoustic, powered
by an electric motor.
The
Deca-Disc is a very rare machine, only two examples are known.
Identification is complicated by the fact that the surviving
machines do not have any manufacturer or model tag.
History of the Deca Disc
The
Deca-Disc automatic phonograph was patented originally in1921 by
James E. Stout. Paul D.
Bodwell, President of the
Deca-Disc
Phonograph Co., Inc. of
At this point, the
Deca-Disc was an acoustic jukebox that played the record naked
without the later record trays.
This original 1924
version most likely had a number of problems: A current owner
tells me that without the trays the Deca-Disc tends to break
records.
In 1925, Bodwell
filed additional patents for record trays made from thin, spun
aluminum to protect the records from chipping and warping. A
cork cover or coat of rough crinkle paint was added to ensure
that the top record did not slip during play.
Even though the
Deca-Disc was now a reliable machine, ready to make lots of
money for the new owners, its inherent limitations made it a
slow seller: Low volume due to the acoustic reproduction, the
plain look of the machine, and the small selection of only 5
records in sequential play did not make it an attractive
proposition. It can be deduced from the lack of promotion and
advertising, that Deca-Disc was ill-prepared to market and
distribute this machine.
(Click on
picture above to see the Deca-Disc in action)
In 1928 the
Ristau brothers’ Atlas Sales Company came to the help of the
failing Deca-Disc company: They bought the aging inventory of
unsold Deca-Discs, and Alfred, the eldest son, converted and
electrified each of these by replacing the soundbox with a
generic “radio adapter” magnetic pick-up, installing a small 8”
electrodynamic speaker and an Silver-Marshall amplifier. This
“electrified” but otherwise unchanged Deca-Disc started the line
of great Ristaucrat jukeboxes.
One source
mentions that Rock-Ola purchased what was left of the Deca-Disc
Company with the hope of introducing the Deca-Disc record
changer/stacker mechanism with its popular Rock-Ola line. A
patent filed by Deca-Disc
MACHINE INFORMATION
|
Maker |
Deca-Disc Phonograph Co.,
Modified by Ristau Atlas Sales Co. |
|
Model |
N/A |
|
Year |
1924, probably sold 1928 |
|
Owner |
Mark Williams |
|
Repaired/Serviced by |
Mark Williams |
Click here for more
information on the function of the Deca-Disc and a list of
Deca-Disc patents.
The Holcomb & Hoke Electramuse
(Click on
picture above to see the Electramuse Grand in action)
The Electramuse was an improved version of the Deca-Disc
with a playing capacity of 15 records. Introduced in 1926, the
Electramuse started the era of modern electrically amplified
phonographs. The Electramuse was based on a flashy cabinet
designed by Frank Hoke with light-up advertisement display (of
the original 1925 Deca-Disc patent), and an improved mechanism
licensed from Deca-Disc.
The Electramuse Grand ($787.50)
with acoustic amplification based on an orthophonic folded horn
design had a “tone volume
sufficient to carry throughout the average size business room."
The
Electramuse Super-Tone ($1260.00) had an up-to date electronic
amplifier and loudspeaker so that the "volume can be stepped up
so that its beautiful tones will reverberate to the uttermost
recesses of the room or hall or can be muted down to the merest
whisper."
Supplemental
wall boxes allowed remote operation in a restaurant setting.
For upscale locations like clubs and hotel lobbies, Holcomb
and Hoke introduced the Auditorium and the Park models of the
Electramuse in 1929. In a respectable, classic mahogany case,
the jukebox emulated the look of the high priced radio sets of
the late 1920s.
Despite all the improvements and Holcomb & Hoke’s great
salesmanship, the Electramuse was not a financial success:
In 1930,
after having lost more than half a million dollars, Holcomb &
Hoke ceased production of the Electramuse.
Frank J. Hoke states in an interview that there was only one
thing wrong with the machine: It was not selective!
Production numbers for the acoustic Electramuse Grand are
estimated at 100, for the electric Electramuse Super-Tone at
3000.
MACHINE INFORMATION
|
Maker |
Holcombe & Hoke |
|
Model |
Electramuse Grand |
|
Year |
1927/28 |
|
Owner |
Mark Williams |
|
Repaired/Serviced by |
Mark Williams |
Click here for more
information on Holcomb and Hokes, Homer Capehart and the
Electramuse.
I am always interested to hear
about other machines.
You can reach me at:
sgimips1 "at"
yahoo.com (replace "at" with @)
Again my great thanks to Chuck Azzalina for his great help in
creating these pages.
Pleases check out his
other web pages with even more
fascinating early audio and TV tube electronics. One level above
this page, you can find more
fascinating changers with video clips.
MORE LINKS
The
original Deca-Disc/ American Music Corporation stock
certificate:
http://www.scripophily.net/ammuscor.html
1921 James.
E. Stout patent of automatic phonograph:
http://www.google.com/patents?id=Q3lWAAAAEBAJ&dq=1,449,252
1925 Paul
D. Bodwell / Henry W. Bellows, patent for coin-op phonograph
with an advertising device:
http://www.google.com/patents?id=wTlhAAAAEBAJ&dq=1,837,608
History of
Holcomb & Hokes and the Butter-Kist popcorn maker:
http://www.antiquepopcornmuseum.com/history.php
On
JukeboxWorld.de:
Great site
of the Electramuse:
http://www.jukebox-world.de/Forum/Archiv/USA/Electramuse.htm
More early
jukeboxes and the Electramuse/ Auditorium Models:
http://www.jukebox-world.de/Forum/Archiv/USA/Sonstige_Modelle_USA.htm