Graphophone Type B – “Eagle”
Columbia Phonograph Company, USA, 1897–1907
Serial Number: 148180 (Type 2)
Historical Background
The Graphophone Type B, better known as the “Eagle,” was introduced in 1897 and quickly became the most successful popular phonograph of its time. With a retail price of 10 US dollars, it was the first machine truly affordable for a broad audience – roughly a quarter to a third of an average monthly wage.
The name “Eagle” derived from the U.S. 10-dollar gold coin, commonly called an “Eagle.” Together with Edison’s “Gem” (priced at $7.50), it marked the beginning of a new era: phonographs were no longer luxury goods but became mass-market items.
Between 1897 and 1907, Columbia produced more than 140,000 Eagle machines, with several small design changes introduced over its production life.
Technology and Features
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Serial number 148180 identifies this machine as part of the “Type 2” design (introduced around no. 146,125).
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Distinctive features: tabbed spring barrels, metal end caps on the wooden lid handle, and a mandrel tag.
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Spring-driven motor with a playing time of about 2 minutes per cylinder.
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Standard equipment included a reproducer, a 10-inch nickel-plated horn, and a wooden carrying case.
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Original selling price: 10 US dollars (1897) – half the cost of a Columbia Q with case and horn.
Rarity and Significance
The Eagle was not a luxury phonograph but a true people’s machine – well-made, reliable, and affordable. It played a decisive role in popularizing recorded sound and helped establish phonographs as household items.
Today, Eagles in fine condition are highly collectible, especially those with original decals and intact mechanics. The example displayed at the Edisonium, with serial number 148180, is a well-preserved Type 2 Eagle and an important witness to the transition from the pioneer era of phonographs to the age of early mass production.
