The Sonograph was an external horn phonograph manufactured for the Canadian Phonograph Co., Toronto, ca. 1902. Many of these machines were designed with distinct sound boxes and parts supplied or branded by Mason & Risch Company, one of Canada's most prominent piano and organ manufacturers founded and headquartered in Toronto as early as 1871.

Canadian Woodworker and Furniture Manufacturer, September 1920, p. 126: "The Provincial Supply & Machine Co., Limited, St. Thomas, Out., are placing a phonograph motor on the market, which is known as the Elgin motor. This motor, it is claimed, compares very favorably with the best on the market and is meeting with a strong demand. The company are equipped for quantity production and are negotiating several large orders. Mr. Anderson, the manager, is not a novice at the game, for he has been interested in the phonograph business since he placed the Sonograph on the market in 1902. At present the efforts of the company are confined to producing motors that at a later date tone arms, reproducers and other parts will be manufactured and some day a complete phonograph may be placed on the market."

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From the Domenic DiBernardo Collection. Photograph by Cheryl Wright.



The sound box is labelled for 'Mason & Risch Toronto', originally a piano company who also manufactured a line of internal horn phonographs.