About us
The City
of London Phonograph and Gramophone Society was formed in 1919 as the
London Edison Society and is the senior recorded music society in the world.
Phonograph and Gramophone Societies came into being in 1911, the first being the
West London in the autumn and then the North London in December. Other societies usually started as the result of talking machine
owners meeting when they brought their records - often in bicycle shops - and
going on to form a group, and then a society, frequently with the support of the
shopkeeper. The leading members in the establishment of our own society came
from these early societies.
Thomas
Edison, the inventor of the Phonograph, became our first Patron and at his
request the name of the Society was changed. Our
current patrons are Oliver Berliner, grandson of the inventor of the gramophone,
Frank Andrews, British record companies researcher, Brian Rust, eminent
discographer and Mike Field, a font of knowledge, machine collector
and skilled restorer.
With
such eminent names it is hardly surprising that our interests lie mainly in
yesterday's music and performers, the history of the Industry, cylinder and disc
records and the machinery with which to play
them. To satisfy these diverse
interests the Society's journal “For The Record" (formally Hillandale
News) is published four times a year; as well as
providing information about society meetings, fairs etc it also acts as a forum
for members to ask questions, give opinions, report activities and buy and sell
items sought.
As might be expected. The members
of the Society, who number hundreds worldwide, own some fine examples of vintage
Phonographs and Gramophones. These are sometimes exhibited and demonstrated at
society meetings, which are held on a regular basis in London and the regions.
The Society is a charity to promote the research and
documentation of the Talking Machine and Record industries. Registered Charity
No. 1057538. Company Reg. No. 3124250.
President: Christopher Proudfoot
Vice-President:
Dave Roberts