Luxus & Jewel Soundboxes
The Luxus and Jewel soundboxes were readily available off-the-shelf soundboxes
On the 14th June 1924, the Gramophone Magazine held gramophone tests at the Steinway Hall. The Magnaphone was entered and did very well coming second place in Class II. The soundbox used was the Seymour Concert. By July 1924, Michael Ginn was obliged to change the name of the Magnaphone due to an existing trade mark. The E.M.G Handmade Gramophone was born.
The following year The Gramophone held more tests at the Caxton Hall. The E.M.G gramophone model B was entered in the tests. The Steinway Hall tests had shown up the limitations of the E.M.G branded Seymour Concert soundbox so they decided to design a unique E.M.G soundbox. But with time running out for the tests, they decided to use two off the shelf reproducers, the Luxus for normal lateral cut records and the Jewel for playing Edison’s vertical cut Diamond Discs. The E.M.G came in third receiving the bronze medal. It would have no doubt done better had they used a better soundbox like a Virtz or Wild.
Jewel Phonoparts
The Jewel was an American design with a "NOMIKA" diaphragm. Obviously not MICA, it was made of laminated material (silk?) sealed with some sort of resin. 100 years later, they seem to have survived in pretty good condition. Jewel Phonoparts were marketed in Britain by Jake Graham "The Edison Specialist" of Liverpool.
Jewel Phonoparts Company was formed in mid-1919 and very successful sold Phonoparts all over the world. Their mainstay was the BLOOD #3 reproducer which was patented by Mr. Burr B. Blood. By early 1921 Blood & Kloer left Jewel to form their own company. But Jewel with their marketing and sales expertise became very popular all over the world selling in huge quantities in the USA, Europe and Australia.
The Blood #3 became the Jewel #3, even NOMIKA now became NOM-Y-KA. It’s defining feature was that it could play both Lateral and Vertically-cut Edison records. It’s twisting design and double stylus bar chuck allowed it to be easily altered to play both types of record.
A much larger reproducer compared to the Victor Exhibition.
Download a pdf with Jewel Phonoparts timeline and advertisements.
Luxus soundbox
Luxus soundbox
Luxus soundbox
Luxus soundbox
Luxus soundbox
Jewel soundbox
Jewel soundbox
Jewel soundbox
Jewel soundbox
Jewel soundbox
Jewel soundbox
Jewel soundbox
Jewel No3 Reproducer
Jewel No3 Reproducer
Jewel No3 Reproducer
Jewel No3 Reproducer
Jewel No3 Reproducer
Jewel No3 Reproducer
