The Vanophone is a cast-iron disc phonograph originally marketed about 1915 by the Otto Heinemann Phonograph Supply Company of New York. Built by the Garford Manufacturing Company in Elyria, Ohio, the compact, hornless machine was heavily advertised as the "Latest Wonder in Phonographs" for just $12.
While initially incorporated in Albany, New York, the Vanophone soon expanded to Canada, with a manufacturing plant set up in Toronto in 1916.
The machine was sturdy, cast entirely in iron, and designed to use the physical body of the phonograph as the horn to project sound. It could play both vertically and laterally cut records, featuring an adjustable needle arm and reproducer.
Canadian Music Trades Journal, May, 1915: "New Talking Machine Company - Under the title of 'Vanaphone Company Limited' a Dominion charter has been taken out by a number of law students and a bookkeeper whose employees according to the Toronto directory are the law firm of Day, Ferguson & O'Sullivan, to manufacture and deal in talking machines, gramophones, phonographs, musical instruments and supplies to be used in any way in connection with the same. The company whose headquarters are to be in Toronto is capitalized at two hundred thousand dollars. The charter is a comprehensive one embracing a wide range of activities."
Music Trade Review, 1914, p. 42.
Windsor Star, July 8, 1915, p. 9.
Owen Sound Sun, February 11, 1916, p. 3.
Toronto Star, March 8, 1916, p. 8.
Toronto Star, April 1, 1916, p. 3. The Vanophone was sold at The Adams Furniture Company Limited, 211-219 Yonge St., Toronto. City of Toronto Archives photograph No. 122/3 labeled "City Hall Square". The Adams Furniture Company is to the left in the photograph.
Cornwall Standard, April 20, 1916, p. 4.
Toronto Star, April 29, 1916, p. 3. Another advertisement from Adams Furniture Store.
Toronto Star, May 19, 1916, p. 3.
Grand Forks Gazette (British Columbia), November 25, 1916, p. 1. Advertisement from Woodland-Quinn Company.
Research (KW) netted this advert from the New Zealand Truth, December 15, 1917 pg. 2 showing exports from Canada. NOTE: the Vanophone is made in Canada.
Toronto Star, July 18, 1918, p. 11.
Machine for sale in Toronto, September 2010 -- photos by Keith Wright:
A Vanophone for sale at Miller & Miller Auctions in Toronto, March 19, 2022.
