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'Never, in the history of present making, has so original and elaborate a gift been made by a subject to his sovereign as the one recently ordered in Washington from the Columbia Phonograph Co., by the Persian minister, for presentation to the Shah of Persia. 'This magnificent gift, which was shipped March 21st [1901] from the factory of the American Graphophone Co., Bridgeport, Conn., consists of a multiplex Graphophone Grand and thirty-four barrels of records and blank cylinders.
'The machine was built on the model of the one exhibited at the Paris Exposition last summer, and which attracted the attention and won the admiration of visitors from all parts of the world. It is the most wonderful sound reproducing mechanism ever constructed and it contains new features in addition to those embodied in the famous Graphophone Grand. It uses three separate horns, acting in absolute unison with three separate and distinct records, each one of which gives the same loud, pure tone as that of the Graphophone Grand. The combination of all three in unison, gives an intensity of volume and a sweetness and richness of tone which seem almost beyond belief and results are obtained that is difficult to realize are within the possibilities of round reproducing mechanism.
'One of the interesting features of this precious shipment is that it will complete the last stage of its journey - from Batum to Teheren - on the backs of camels, and it goes without saying that no present that has ever been received at the palace of the Shah created even a small fraction of the interest that will be awakened when this phenomenal instrument, from far away Connecticut, makes it appearance and lifts up its wondrous voices.'
(The Ford Wayne Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Tuesday, 26 March 1901, p. 4c)
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