This adaptation of the famous Berliner 'Trademark' gramophone was the first coin-operated disk phonograph, made in 1900. While the design of cylinder phonographs made them relatively easy to convert to coin-operation (electric versions were made as early as 1889 and spring-driven cylinder coin-ops appeared in 1896), disk gramophones were not as readily adapted, especially since in that era the steel needle had to be changed after each record. (Cylinder machines used a permanent sapphire stylus.)

Coin-operated cylinder phonographs were relatively automatic in operation, however a customer wishing to listen to a disk record was obliged to work for his pleasure. First, a small 7" disk would be selected from a stack held in the opening at the right front of the machine. (This did offer one advantage over cylinder coin-ops, which only held one selection -- there was a choice of several records on the Berliner.) The patron would put the record on the turntable and secure it with a record hold-down clamp. The needle would then be replaced, using a fresh needle taken from the cup next to the coin slot at the end of the cabinet. At this point a penny could be dropped in the slot, freeing the crank so the mainspring could be wound up. Pushing a plunger would start the turntable rotating, and the customer would finally position the needle in the opening groove so the record could play. A mechanical timing mechanism let the motor run just long enough for one record, so the customer could not replay even a portion of the same song without paying another penny. A ratchet prevented winding the spring by rotating the turntable backwards. It was an ingenious mechanism but burdensome for the patron, and as a result it was not very successful. The machine seen here, produced and sold in England, is one of only about 12 coin-operated Berliners known to survive today in American and European collections. It is in exceptional condition and completely original, even down to the turntable felt and leather horn elbow.