Universal Talking Machine Co.

American record company, record factory and gramophone, funded January 26, 1898 by Frank Seaman and La Dow. Notorious for it's patent infringement and piracy of records. The company originates form Seaman's National Gramophone Company, a gramophone distributor of Emile Berliner's gramophone machines and discs, which were manufactured by Eldridge R. Johnson's factory. Relationships deteriorated and eventually Seaman claimed breach of contract and joined with La Dow to fund Universal Talking Machine Company in 1898. National Gramophone Company became Universal Talking Machine Company's sales agent, with La Dow at the helm of both. The company sold defaced Berliner machines to both the USA and Europe, and began manufacturing it's own gramophones in late 1898 by hand of inventor Louis P. Valiquet, infringing on the patents of the Berliner design and advertised as “improved Gramophones”. The Zon-o-phone trademark was registered on August 11, 1898 for use in gramophones, National Gramophone had already advertised the name as early as February 1898. The records for these machines were legally obtained from Berliner to National Gramophone and had been drilled to accomodate Valiquet's modifications. By late 1899, Some Berliner discs were drilled by unrelated third parties so they could be played on Talking Machine gramophones. In October 1898. American Graphophone Company took legal action against National Gramophone, claiming that the Berliner reproducer infringed its floating-stylus patent. The cause is ruled against National Gramophone on November. Gramophones machines were halted from January 1899 to March 1899, resulting in the dismantling of National Gramophone. Seaman and La Dew rebuilt the company as National Gram-O-Phone Corp.. Soon after Berliner company stopped sending pressings. By late 1899, pirated (via electroplating) 7'' Berliner discs with defaced labels started being sold by National Gramophone Corp., pressed by the The Burt Company. In the same period, Universal Talking Machine was underway to setting up it's own recording studio under supervisor of ex-Edison engineer John C. English. Somewhere between 1899 and early 1900, the first original recordings were pressed, still on unbranded labels, but soon after were being credited to Universal Talking Machine Company. The first Zonophone labels appear as Zon-O-Phone Record, pressed in late 1900 or 1901, credited to National Gram-O-Phone Corp. on front and Universal Talking Machine Co. on back. In 1900 the company enters a license deal with Columbia Phonograph Co. due to the latter's interest in breaking into the flat record market, abandoning the Gram-O-Phone brand entirely in favour of Zon-O-Phone. A year later in 1901 Universal Talking Machine Company enters a lawsuit with English over his move to Globe Record Co., which is ruled in English' favour. Competition by Globe Records causes the company to release the first 9'' discs. The same year, Frederick Prescott, Zon-O-Phone sales agent in Europe, funds the german branch International Zonophone Company, with the first german Zon-O-Phone records being pressed in September 1901. The Universal Talking Machine Manufacturing Company proper is created in November 1901 after National Gramophone Corporation is declared bankrupt. The older Universal Talking Machine Company becomes sales office of the new talking machine factory. In October 1903, Gramophone & Typewriter Ltd. adquired both companies and sells them to Eldridge Johnson, president of Victor Talking Machine Co.. The company retains relative independence until 1910 Both companies fold in 1912 after years of legal struggles.