Within a nicely finished dovetailed carrying case is a silver metal phonograph for play with wax cylinders, signed Pathe Freres, Brevete SGDG patented Systeme, and with serial number 1966, and with incised design of crowing rooster and the company slogan "Je Chante haut et Clair". The rooster logo and slogan is repeated in red and gold decoupage on the box lid, along with an enamel label of the original vendor, "Gramophones & Phonographes, Depot de Fabriques, 20,22 Rue Childeherd Lyon". The coronet bracket is missing.
Historical References: When Paris bistro owners, Charles and Emile Pathe, saw an Edison phonograph at a fair in 1890 they were so fascinated that they immediately purchased one as an attention-getter for their bistro. Fascinated customers asked about buying one for themselves, and the Pathe brothers decided to create their own rather than market Edison's. In 1894 they began selling their own, based on the the Edison design, as well as their own cylinders. The production period of Pathe Freres phonograph and cylinders was fairly short, for by 1905 they had turned their attention to disc records. Circa 1900.