western australia

A phonograph with two horns

@JudyEv (346592)

Rockingham, Australia

February 12, 2025 3:25am CST

Today’s photo from the Collie Museum is of a phonograph with two horns. The original phonograph was invented by Thomas Edison in 1877 and dual horn type began appearing in the late 1890s to early 1900s. One of the reasons for two horns was to balance and amplify sound better, especially in entertainment venues and public performances. I’ve seen plenty of phonographs with a single horn but this one was the first I’d seen with two horns.

19 people like this

18 responses

@pitstop (14678)

• Australia

12 Feb

I've never seen with twin horns. At first, I looked at the title and thought I'd see an animal.

4 people like this

@JudyEv (346592)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Feb

I can understand that.

3 people like this

@GardenGerty (162244)

• United States

13 Feb

The first "stereo" how cool.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (346592)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Feb

Yes, I guess it was! One of the first anyway. lol

2 people like this

@Shavkat (140260)

• Philippines

12 Feb

That is a treasure. I would be glad to see it in person.

2 people like this

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@Shavkat (140260)

• Philippines

16 Feb

@JudyEv I agree with you. Whenever I travel to a new place, I usually go to the museum before exploring the rest of the tourist spots.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (346592)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Feb

Museums have a lot of such interesting items. I enjoy going through them.

2 people like this

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@rakski (132922)

• Philippines

12 Feb

This is the first time I saw a double head phonograph

2 people like this

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@rakski (132922)

• Philippines

13 Feb

2 people like this

@JudyEv (346592)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Feb

It was a first for me too.

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@grenery8 (13525)

• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)

13 Feb

it's my first time too. very high class

2 people like this

@JudyEv (346592)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Feb

I guess it cost a lot of money in its day.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (346592)

• Rockingham, Australia

18 Feb

@grenery8 Yes, it would bring a lot of money nowadays as it's unusual to see them with two horns.

1 person likes this

@grenery8 (13525)

• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)

17 Feb

@JudyEv i bet too but i think maybe today too for the right buyer.

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@lilacskies (4560)

• United States

13 Feb

I've never seen something like that before.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (346592)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Feb

Me either. I was quite surprised.

2 people like this

@lilacskies (4560)

• United States

13 Feb

@JudyEv I would be too.

2 people like this

@snowy22315 (185401)

• United States

12 Feb

I never saw anything like that.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (346592)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Feb

My mouth dropped when I saw it.

2 people like this

@RebeccasFarm (92068)

• United States

12 Feb

First time Ive seen that too wow Judy.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (346592)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Feb

I was really surprised to see it. One of our house-sits had a phonograph but with a single horn.

1 person likes this

@FourWalls (71507)

• United States

12 Feb

Stereo!!!!

2 people like this

@JudyEv (346592)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Feb

Yep! Way back then.

2 people like this

@wolfgirl569 (111824)

• Marion, Ohio

12 Feb

I never seen two horns on one

2 people like this

@JudyEv (346592)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Feb

It's usually just the one, isn't it?

2 people like this

@Marilynda1225 (83777)

• United States

12 Feb

That's a first time for me seeing a two horned phonograph too. Makes sense that two horns would amplify the sound better.. We're really come a long way for playing music these days.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (346592)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Feb

It would be interesting to dance to one/two of these and hear the sound coming from different directions.

1 person likes this

@andriaperry (118286)

• Anniston, Alabama

13 Feb

My first also.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (346592)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Feb

It's amazing what you come across in museums.

1 person likes this

@Ronrybs (19898)

• London, England

12 Feb

Didn't know there were two horns on these devices. I guess the quest for stereo has been going on for a while!

2 people like this

@JudyEv (346592)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Feb

I'd love to hear something played through here.

1 person likes this

@arunima25 (88984)

• Bangalore, India

12 Feb

This is the first time I am seeing one with two horns. My grandparents had one with single horn. And that's what I have mostly seen on-screen in old movies too

2 people like this

@JudyEv (346592)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Feb

I've seen a few of those with single horns in museums, etc but this is the first double-horned one I've seen.

2 people like this

@arunima25 (88984)

• Bangalore, India

13 Feb

@JudyEv Thank you for sharing. I would have never be aware that two horns photographs existed

2 people like this

@allknowing (141016)

• India

12 Feb

Single or double horns they are all outdated now

2 people like this

@JudyEv (346592)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Feb

That's true and they've been outdated for quite some time.

2 people like this

@jstory07 (141878)

• Roseburg, Oregon

13 Feb

I have never seen any with two horns either.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (346592)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Feb

I wonder if I'll ever see another one.

1 person likes this

@DaddyEvil (141838)

• United States

12 Feb

I've only see a phonograph with one horn in movies and never one with two horns. I didn't realize two horns was ever a "thing".

2 people like this

@JudyEv (346592)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Feb

I didn't know they were a 'thing' either. I was very intrigued.

2 people like this

@Beestring (14925)

• Hong Kong

12 Feb

This is the first time I've seen a phonograph with two horns. Those horns are really big.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (346592)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Feb

They needed to be big I guess to throw out much sound.

2 people like this