Kalamazoo was once the home of the rising Duplex Phonograph Company that produced the 'Duplexophone' using the motto "Made For You in Kalamazoo". The company lasted from 1905 to 1910, when it folded following a series of lawsuits for patent infringement by the Victor Talking Machine Company. The unique Duplex twin-horn phonograph was designed by Charles E. Hill, a Canadian immigrant. In this episode I explore the history of the company through its short existence as a nationally known phonograph manufacturer.
To see the article on from the Kalamazoo History site: https://www.kpl.gov/local-history/kalamazoo-history/business/duplex-phonograph-company
To see the YouTube video of a Duplex Phonograph in use: https://youtu.be/KcIZOfwMC0Y
For more information on Michael Delaware, visit: https://michaeldelaware.com
