Offered in 1899 by the Parisian firm of Girard (see also "Le
Menestrel"), the "Omega" was the first of a long series of French
phonographs to be modelled after the Columbia 'Eagle' Graphophone Model B. Unlike
the American style, the open-works motor is mounted to a reversible wooden board,
which can be turned over to enclose the motor in the lower part of the cabinet when
not in use. A handle is mounted on the other side of the base board.
The Omega
is also unique for its vertically-mounted governor -- the only other phonograph with
this unusual feature was the the Edison
Class M. The curved nickel-plated brass horn is called a 'cor-de-chasse' or 'hunting
horn,' a style found only on a few European phonographs. This very mint example also
carries the original dealer's plate on the front of the cabinet, from a store in
Paris.