About Us
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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 bought 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.
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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); and Dave Roberts and Brian Oakley, who have both contributed significantly to society affairs over many years.
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 machines on which to play them. To satisfy these diverse interests the Society's journal For The Record (formerly 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.
Despite our historic name we are an active world-wide Society with over 500 members, the majority of whom are in the UK. As might be expected some of our members own fine examples of vintage Phonographs and Gramophones. These are often exhibited and demonstrated at society meetings, which are held on a regular basis in London and around the UK.
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 machines on which to play them. To satisfy these diverse interests the Society's journal For The Record (formerly 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.
Despite our historic name we are an active world-wide Society with over 500 members, the majority of whom are in the UK. As might be expected some of our members own fine examples of vintage Phonographs and Gramophones. These are often exhibited and demonstrated at society meetings, which are held on a regular basis in London and around the UK.