The Phonola Company of Canada Ltd.

Title

The Phonola Company of Canada Ltd.

Example Artifact
Player, disk

Type

Company
Brand

Coverage

Kitchener, ON

Active From

1914-01-01

End Date

1925-01-01

Location

480 Victoria Street, Kitchener, ON (1922)

Product Areas

Electricity
Sound reproduction

Activities

Manufacturing

Timeline

  • 1914 – The Phonola Co. of Canada is apparently active and manufacturing in Canada: Phonola-brand “talking machines” are on sale at the Hurteau Williams Co. Ltd. in Ottawa, ON: “Now is your opportunity to buy a genuine Phonola made in Canada… The regular price of this talking machine is $165. If it were an American machine it would cost you at least $225.” (“Ten Days’ Talking Machine Sale”)
  • 1916 – The Pollock Manufacturing Co., Ltd., of Kitchener, ON, is advertising its sales of the Phonola Talking Machine; advertisements suggest the Pollock Co. is actually manufacturing Phonola-brand products: “If you are paying the duty from motives of patriotism, your course is commendable… the Phonola offers you all that you can get in any foreign-made equivalent at a considerable reduction in cost.” This refers to electrical equipment tariffs on US imports, raising money for the war effort from Canadian importers and buyers. (“Phonola - Model Prince $175”)
  • 1919 – The Phonola Co. of Canada Ltd., an arm of the General Phonograph Corp. of New York, NY, USA takes over the Pollock Manufacturing Company of Kitchener, ON, with which it already has a trading link. (“Phonola”)
  • 1922 – Active as General Phonograph Corp. of Canada at 480 Victoria Street, Kitchener, ON. (Irwin’s Kitchener-Waterloo City Directory (1922-23): 135)
  • 1925 – A new company owned by A.B. Pollock, Pollock-Welker Ltd. repurchases the Phonola Co. Kitchener plant and business, and produces “Helycon phonograph motors, tone-arms and reproducers, which are so favorable known to the trade in Canada…” (“Phonola”)

Sources

“Phonola” Canadian Antique Phonograph Society News (https://www.capsnews.org/capp/phonola/phonola.html) [14-08-23]

“Phonola - Model Prince $175” The Calgary Daily Herald, November 1, 1916: 5

“Ten Days’ Talking Machine Sale” The Evening Citizen (Ottawa), October 15, 1914: 1
Image Name Function
Player, disk Player, disk
Receiver, radio Receiver, radio TO RECEIVE, DEMODULATE & AMPLIFY AM STANDARD BROADCAST SIGNALS

Collection

Makers

Tags

Citation

“The Phonola Company of Canada Ltd.,” Precision Instrument Culture in Canada, accessed January 2, 2025, http://omeka.uottawa.ca/instrument-precision/items/show/8274.

Output Formats

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