This original tinfoil phonograph was made by U.M. Fondain in 1879 or 1880. Fondain was a pioneer in the production of phonographs in France, but despite the high quality of his machines his business was unsuccessful -- the company went bankrupt in April 1881. Fondain's tooling and equipment were taken over by Eugene Ducretet, who went on to produce similar phonoraphs under his own name. The cast iron base is painted a bronze color, and the phonograph features a 'throwout' lever on the right side allowing the feedscrew to be disengaged so the mandrel can be rapidly returned to the beginning of the recording. Measuring 9-3/4" by 7", this was produced as a novelty rather than a phonograph for large public exhibitions. (Though relatively small in size, it is still a very heavy phonograph).