Vintage Brunswick Phonograph with 1/4 Sawn Tiger Oak Cabinet

The Brunswick – Balke - Collender Company is an interesting reflection of American business ingenuity. Founded by John Moses Brunswick (1819 – 1886), the J. M. Brunswick Manufacturing Company opened for business in 1845 to make carriages, but soon afterwards began making billiard tables. Through the years they merged with their competitors, Great Western Billiard Manufactory and H. W. Collender Company of New York, and to keep up with the times, extended their business to include large ornate neo-classical style bars, and sporting equipment. In the early part of the 20th century, Brunswick expanded their product line to include such diverse items as automobile tires and phonographs and by the 1920’s became one of the largest American phonograph companies. In the late 1910s, they introduced a popular line of disc phonograph records and in the 1930’s sold its control for the record company to Warner Brothers. The Brunswick-Balke- Collender Company officially changed its name to the Brunswick Corporation in 1960 and continues to diversify its products producing military camouflage nets, radomes for the Patriot missile and yachts and pleasure boats.