Edison Phonograph Toy Manufacturing Company - 1890 dated Maine Toy Company

100 Shares stock; American Bank Note Company; Such a fantastic vignette- one of our favorites!

The Edison Phonograph Toy Manufacturing Company, founded in 1887, aimed to commercialize the world’s first talking doll. Led by William W. Jacques, Lowell Briggs, and endorsed by Thomas Edison, the company sought to capitalize on Edison’s 1877 phonograph invention by miniaturizing it for toy use. Their flagship product, the Edison Talking Doll, stood 22 inches high and featured a tiny internal phonograph that played nursery rhymes like “Jack and Jill” and “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” While these dolls marked a historic milestone as the first phonographs marketed for home entertainment, they were prohibitively expensive, costing up to $25—equivalent to several weeks’ salary for an average worker in 1890.

Despite the high-profile launch, the company faced technical and legal challenges, leading to its short-lived existence. The dolls were marketed for only a few weeks in early 1890 before widespread malfunctions resulted in massive returns. The delicate wax cylinders were prone to cracking, and the sound quality was often described as “frightening” by children, prompting Edison to later refer to them as his “little monsters.” Internal conflict also crippled the venture, as Edison took control shortly after its founding, leading to years of litigation with the original founders. The Edison Phonograph Toy Manufacturing Company officially ceased operations in 1895, leaving behind a legacy as one of Edison’s most notable commercial failures.