In today's world, mostly everyone refers to an old antique phonograph as a "Victrola".
This is actually an incorrect term to be using.

"Victrola" became the generic term to describe all old antique phonographs today whether it is a cabinet style, outside horn, etc.

Sort of how everyone uses "Xerox" when they say, they "have to Xerox the report", meaning, make copies of the report. None the less, when you hear the word, Victrola, you think immediately of a old phonograph from the early 1900's that were powered by hand crank.



"Victrola" - Came from the Victor Talking Machine Co. in 1909. Victrola, actually was a type of phonograph Victor produced, The Victor Victrola. The Victrola was basically a wood cabinet style phonograph, floor or table top version, that had a wooden horn inside the cabinet, hidden from sight. Usually behind two cabinet doors. The "Victrola" was always a cabinet style phonograph, never an outside exposed horn model.

Victor made outside exposed horn models. Because Edison invented the Phonograph, Victor called their's "Talking Machines" for patent reasons.

"Phonograph" was actually invented by Edison himself. He called his creation a "phonograph". His phonograph played 2-minute cylinder records. Later on, 4-minute records as well. Later on, he invented his flat disc records and called them "Diamond Discs", which used his special Diamond-tip stylus to play them.

"Gramophone" - Usually used to describe an old phonograph that used an outside exposed wood/brass horn. These models described flat records style in the early 1900's (patented by Berliner)  Britains usually call phonographs as Gramophones, Americans usually refer them as "Victrolas" or "Phonographs".

"Graphaphone" - Because of copyright & patents, you will see this word, "Graphaphone" on most Columbia models of that era.
The Grafaphone were early models that played cylinder

"Grafanola" - Columbia's version of the wooden cabinet / flat disc phonograph. Columbia used louvers in front of the speaker.

"Diamond Discs" - A flat record made by Edison. These were different than that of most records as they were about 1/4" thick. They also were meant to be played using Edison's Diamond Tip Stylus which were on his Cabinet style Phonographs.

Many companies called their machines different things, usually with an "OLA" at the end of the name. Example: Victrola, Metrola, Mediola, Centrola, and so on...

"Silvertone" - Sears Roebuck released their own phonograph with this title.

"Sound Box/Reproducer" - This is the part on the phonograph that holds the needle. Most European's call this the Sound-box, American's tend to use the word Reproducer. Neither is wrong to use when talking about this part.

"Needle/Stylus" - A needle is usually a piece of sharp metal. Stylus is a piece of metal with a special Sapphire, diamond or other stone on the end of it.