ABSTRACT

One of the early gramophone societies, and probably the oldest one extant, organized in April 1919 by Norman Hillyer. Its original name was the “London Edison Society”; its founding membership consisted of about 40 persons, “a number of whom were ladies.” Thomas Edison himself was invited to be president, but he declined, and he also disapproved the use of his name. So the name of the group was changed to “City of London Phonograph Society.” In August 1919 Edison became “patron” of the society. At the fifth meeting, in September 1919, Adrian Sykes became the first president. To suit the interests of various radio enthusiasts among the members, another name change took place in 1923, to “City of London Phonograph and Radio Society,” but “radio” was quietly dropped from the name in 1925, although it remained in the official title until the outbreak of World War II, when meetings were suspended until 1946. With the resumption of meetings “gramophone” was substituted for “radio.” Sykes served as president until he died in 1959. Major H.H. Annand became the second president of the society. George Frow was president in 1991, and Oliver Berliner (grandson of Emile Berliner) the “honorary patron.”