The Autophone was patented in 1909 by Cornelius Reinhardt, assignor to the Autophone Co., San Francisco, California, Patent No. 909,455. The Autophone is a phonograph designed to play twelve Blue Amberol or other hard cylinder records automatically in sequence. On average, a record will play for about four minutes, enabling the machine to produce music unattended for 45+ minutes on a single winding. The Autophone was manufactured by the American Phonograph Co., 102 West 101st Street, New York.
In early 1913, reports about the Autophone began appearing in Canadian newspapers, especially in British Columbia, highly praising the new invention. In June, 1913, after obtaining the patent rights to the machine for all of Canada and the Pacific Coast States, the Canada Autophone Co. Ltd. put the Autophone on the market, introducing it to the public with free daily recitals at 910 Robson Street, Vancouver, B.C.
In July, 1914, the Dominion Autophone Co. Ltd., Vancouver, B.C., purchased the patent rights to the Autophone from the Canada Autophone Co. Ltd. Initially it acquired its stock of Autophones from the manufacturer in New York. By early 1915, it was manufacturing the Autophone in Canada.
Talking Machine World, February 1909, p. 75. Patent 909,455 for the Autophone.
Victoria Daily Times, May 20, 1913, p. 4.
Vancouver Sun, June 2, 1913, p. 11.
The Province (Vancouver), June 10, 1913, p. 8.
Vancouver Sun, June 14, 1913, p. 8.
The Province (Vancouver), June 18, 1913, p. 17.
Vancouver Daily World, June 16, 1914, p. 12.
National Post (Toronto), July 25, 1914, p. 3.
Talking Machine World, January 1915, p. 30 and February 1915, p. 45.
Victoria Daily Times, March 30, 1915, p. 5.
An Autophone manufactured by the Dominion Autophone Company Ltd., Vancouver, B.C.
