The Edison Class E Oratorio Phonograph is one of the rarest Edison models ever made. For more than 30 years, this Class E was a cornerstone of the iconic Domenic DiBernardo collection. While it has recently moved into new hands, it continues its legacy as a local treasure, preserved in the city of Toronto.

Edison Class E Oratorio Phonograph

Manufactured in 1899, this phonograph is the rarest concert version and features a scarce Bettini reproducer and a listening rail that can accommodate up to 19 listeners, an exceptionally unusual combination of premium accessories that makes this machine unique.

A rare early tintype photograph from the late Allen Koenigsberg collection. The Edison Class M and Class E were frequently used and modified for exhibition purposes. The machine pictured features remnants on its trim and upper case where it was cut to display a larger horn suspended by a front-mounted crane.

The "Opera" & "Oratorio" phonographs are special variants of the Edison Class M’s and E’s, designed specifically for playing the large-format concert size wax cylinders. These cylinders, with a diameter of 5”, offered significantly greater volume and an extended frequency range compared to standard cylinders. Their larger diameter resulted in a higher linear speed of the stylus along the groove, which made them ideal for high-quality music and vocal performances.

Edison Class E Oratorio, with listening rail and Bettini aftermarket reproducer Amazing all Original Edison Class M Opera. Courtesy of The Edisonium Museum, Rolf Kramer, Austria

The Class M concert version was marketed as the Opera, retailing for $85 while the Class E concert version was marketed as the Oratorio and retailed for $100 in late 1899 and early 1900. In general appearance and equipment, the class E phonograph is very similar to the Class M model. However, it is uniquely furnished with an electric motor specifically wound to operate on 110 to 120- volt Edison direct current, eliminating the need for the messy batteries that are required for the Class M.

This Edison Class M Opera was factory modified by Pathé to equip it with the large Vérité system allowing the use of a floating reproducer and a removable concert mandrel. Not being able to completely produce its own phonograph with an electric motor, at least for a competitive manufacturing price, the Chatou firm resorted to this adaptation in order to offer its customers this electric version of the Concert or Stentor.

My personal favorite cabinet card picturing Thomas Alva Edison standing with his cigar. J.M.White & Co 1102 Military Street, Port Huron, Michigan. Courtesy of Chad Shapiro, Baltimore, USA

According to historical records, this particular class E was originally sold in Toronto, Ontario, Canada by the R.S. Williams Company, a prominent Edison dealer.

Edison class M Opera with aftermarket polyphone attachment. The polyphone attachment is a rare late- 19th-century accessory created by the Chicago Talking Machine Company that uses dual reproducers and dual horns to play the exact same cylinder record groove simultaneously. By positioning the two styli roughly half an inch apart, the device creates a fractional time delay between the reproducers that results in a natural, acoustic reverb. Introduced around 1898, it originally cost $15 for standard models and $25 for concert versions. Invented by Leon Douglass, the Polyphone attachment successfully doubled the volume of faint brown wax records and produced a fuller sound. However, the device became obsolete around 1902 when louder, mass- produced molded cylinder records entered the market. Courtesy of Henk & Irene Noordermeer, Ontario, Canada

An incredible piece of Canadian advertising measuring approximately 8” X 11.5". A.R. Hopper & A. Rayson, Proprietors from Cookstown, Ontario, seeking engagements to play their Edison Class M Phonograph for private entertainments, also church entertainments. There is so much intriguing information that I encourage you to carefully read through the ad. Notice the program selection includes recordings from the Penetang Reformatory Band (local prison) and the Meaford Silver Cornet Band, (a town on Georgian Bay Ontario). Maybe you may recognize some of the other performers as Canadian recordings while others are obviously recordings from Edison or Columbia. Courtesy of Paul Dodington, Ontario, Canada

From the photos stored with this machine and Domenic’s notes, it is safe to say this was a real barn find. Although there is no indication as to where it was found, the notes indicated that it was in terrible condition, completely battered and worn down, covered in dirt, with the green oak cabinet painted over with dark paint or shellac. Domenic’s expertise in cabinet refinishing brought the woodwork back to its original colour and condition. Thankfully, untouched patches of the original finish on the front drawer panels guided his meticulous restoration.

Class M Carnival Exhibition Unit This impressive Class M Edison Phonograph was once a hard- working carnival exhibition unit. Found with its mahogany cabinet wrapped in red fabric secured by nails, and suffering from a burned- out motor, it has now been beautifully brought back to life. Today, it is proudly exhibited at a historic estate. Back in the day, these iconic machines were widely used for exhibitions, carnivals, and special events. This specific unit features a custom-made, period- correct wooden carrying case adorned with a gorgeous gold, green, and blue banner that reads The Edison Phonograph. Courtesy of Tim James Pirochta, Michigan, USA This original 1890s photograph captures Lyman Hawkes Howe, a foundational figure in early acoustic entertainment posing with his Edison Class M phonograph. During this era, traveling exhibitionists toured the country, introducing spellbound audiences to recorded music and spoken- word comedy for the very first time. To make these experiences more personal, exhibitioners frequently recorded local singers in each town and added them directly into the evening's program. Today, the rare surviving wax cylinders found in these traveling kits offer historians a priceless, auditory window into the forgotten local performers of the late- 19th century. Caches of these types of early acoustic recordings have been found in Canada and are currently being researched. Once fully archived, they will ultimately be made available to the public, offering an unprecedented look at the very dawn of Canadian recorded sound. Progress on this research will be posted in an upcoming issue of the APN. Courtesy of Mark Caruana-Dingli, Ontario, Canada

A selection of exceptional R.S Williams cylinders boxes sold by the same dealer as the Edison Class E & Class M phonographs

Class E phonographs were originally designed to operate on 110 volts DC, which is the reason there are three terminal posts on the front of the case. Some individuals may be suspicious of the extra holes that can be seen on the front and back of the cabinet, but those are actually original ventilation holes. These primitive motors are prone to overheating, so these holes were installed to help keep the motor cool.

Both the Edison Class ‘M’ Concert battery powered phonograph and Class ‘E’ Concert 110/120V D.C. phonograph came in electric coin-slot versions. As D.C. “household” current was not common, the battery powered version was more successful. The Class ‘M’ Concert electric coin-slot phonograph (shown) was marketed as the Ajax while the Class E Concert was given the name Vulcan. Outfitted to play the newer Concert-sized cylinders, these machines produced enough volume to fill a room using large external horns. By contrast, the quieter, standard-sized brown wax cylinders required the use of individual listening tubes in the phonograph parlors that sprang up during this early period.

Just as the Opera and Oratorio represent the rarest Edison phonographs, these machines stand as the technical pinnacle of the Class M/Class E line. Due to an exceptionally brief production run cut short by the rapid decline of the concert cylinder format, only a handful of the Class M Opera version survive today. As for the Class E version, I’ve only been able to confirm five examples of the regular non-concert type, with remarkably no two being alike; these range from coin-operated models to units integrated into desks with cast-iron legs. As for the Class E Oratorio concert phonograph, it appears that this is the one lone concert example known.

Author Aleksander Witkowski poses with the Edison green oak Class E phonograph