[The following note describes a series of company records and has no images attached to it. To view the images in the records described here, use the "Which Series Notes?" button to enter the Series Notes or use the "Next Text" button to move to the first item in the series.]

Though not a founder, Edison was involved with the North American Phonograph Co. (NAPC) prior to its organization. Incorporated in New Jersey on July 14, 1888, the NAPC was the marketing intermediary between the Edison Phonograph Works and the regional companies operating in the United States and Canada. The company's founding directors included Jesse H. Lippincott, the sole licensee of the American Graphophone Co., who acquired the Edison Phonograph Co. on June 28, 1888 and, along with it, exclusive rights to develop the phonograph patents commercially in the United States and Canada. The NAPC subsequently acquired Lippincott's phonograph rights and his interest in the Edison Phonograph Co. It also joined Lippincott in several contracts with Edison and the Edison Phonograph Works, and it became liable for its own as well as much of Lippincott's financial indebtedness to Edison.

Edison eventually assumed financial and administrative control of the NAPC. Between December 1891 and June 1892 he became a member of its board of directors and executive committee, and he succeeded Samuel Insull as president. In August 1894 Edison, the company's largest individual bondholder, called his bonds immediately due and payable. The company was placed in receivership, and Edison resisted the receiver's requests for the assignment of his phonograph patents. With the founding of the National Phonograph Co. in 1896, Edison resumed dual control of marketing and manufacturing the phonograph. He also inherited legal disputes with numerous NAPC "sub-companies" or "subsidiaries." These regional companies, which were organized, licensed, and sometimes partly owned by NAPC, operated as franchises with exclusive rights to lease phonographs and graphophones within their respective territories.

The records of the NAPC and its subsidiary companies cover the period 1887-1905, with most items dating from 1888-1894. They consist of board minutes, financial records, legal documents, scrapbooks, and other items. Also included is a stock transfer book from the Automatic Phonograph Exhibition Co., the firm that controlled distribution of the nickel-in-the-slot machine. A finding aid is available at the Edison National Historical Park.

Records not selected

North American Phonograph Company Records (1887-1894)

These records include printed material and financial documents. The printed material consists of (1) a transcription from a demonstration of the graphophone given to congressional reporters in 1887; and (2) a volume of patent specifications, claims, and drawings issued by the U.S. Patent Office to Edison, Charles S. Tainter, and Alexander Graham Bell. The financial documents consist of: (1) three cash books (1888-1894); (2) six volumes of sales and rental records (1890-1894); and (3) a series of twenty-year, six-percent debenture bonds ($300,000 total issue), nos. 6-300 (1892).

Automatic Phonograph Exhibition Co. Records (1890-1891)

This stock-transfer book covers the period December 1890-January 1891. It contains a record of transferable certificates of beneficial interest to be held in trust by Edison for no more than three years. The major stockholders represented are Charles Batchelor, Sherburne B. Eaton, Samuel Insull, and Alfred O. Tate. Many of the certificates are blank.

Metropolitan Phonograph Co. Records (1888-1897)

These records consist of a minute book and financial documents. The minute book (photocopy) covers the period October 1888-February 1890. It includes the certificate of incorporation and by-laws of the company, agreements with the North American Phonograph Co., and minutes from regular meetings of the trustees and stockholders. The subjects covered include the election and resignation of trustees, the appointment of officers, and relations with the North American Phonograph Co., the New York Phonograph Co., and the Automatic Phonograph Exhibition Co. Other entries pertain to delays in receiving machines and prices from the manufacturer; the leasing of office space at 257 Fifth Avenue; and expenses, commissions, and rental receipts. The financial documents consist of (1) a ledger (1888-1890); (2) two journals (1889-1897); and (3) a cash book (1889-1890).

New England Phonograph Co. Records (1888-1905)

This minute book covers the period September 1888-September 1905. It includes the articles of association, certificate of organization, and by-laws of the company, as well as minutes of meetings of directors and stockholders, lists of stockholders, and license and trust agreements with the North American Phonograph Co. The subjects covered include the election and resignation of directors, the appointment of officers, changes in the company's capital stock, and relations with Edison and the North American Phonograph Co.

New Jersey Phonograph Co. Records (1889-1898, 1901)

These records consist of a scrapbook and financial documents. The scrapbook covers the period March 1889 to June 1890. It includes handbills, programs, clippings, correspondence, notes, draft agreements, and photographs. The correspondence consists primarily of letters of testimony, but some items pertain to the rental costs of phonograph exhibitions. The correspondents include Peter T. Austen, professor of chemistry at Rutgers College; J. H. Friend of the Western Pennsylvania Phonograph Co.; Felix Gottschalk and other representatives of the Metropolitan Phonograph Co.; and Alfred O. Tate of the Edison Phonograph Works. The clippings deal with company history, phonograph exhibitions and applications, foreign rights, and technical matters. The financial documents consist of (1) a stock certificate book (1889-1896) containing a record of issued stock and cancelled shares, along with a list of stockholders; and (2) two stock ledgers (1889-1896; 1901).

New York Phonograph Co. Records (1889-1896)

These records consist of (1) three journals (1889-1895); and (2) two cash books (1890-1896).

Ohio Phonograph Co. Records (1888-1892)

These records include a typed copy of the articles of incorporation, along with affidavits and other documents from various legal cases. The litigants involved include the Ohio Phonograph Co., the Edison Phonograph Co., Ilsen & Co., James L. Andem, Michael G. Heintz, and Joshua M. Dawson. Among the exhibits are the license and trust agreements with the North American Phonograph Co., an inventory and appraisal of company property, and a list of stockholders.

Local Phonograph Companies: Convention Proceedings

The Edison National Historical Park contains the first two volumes of the proceedings of the four annual conventions that were held from 1890 through 1893. The first meeting took place in Chicago on May 28-29, 1890 and was called to order by Edward D. Easton, president of the Columbia Phonograph Co. Representatives from thirty-three local companies attended. Each company was entitled to two copies of the Proceedings. Since the meetings included frank discussion of the problems encountered in marketing the phonograph, these volumes were not sold to the public. The ENHP's copy of the first volume contains the following inscription: "To Thomas A Edison Esq. from Samuel Insull This volume is the first evidence of the adaptability of the Phonograph to practical reporting New York 22nd July 1890." The proceedings of the first meeting were published by the Country Music Foundation in 1974. See Proceedings of the 1890 Convention of Local Phonograph Companies, edited by Danny R. Hatcher with an introduction by Ray Wile (Nashville, 1974).