PIONEER
Thomas GRAF
| nationality | |
| occupation | |
| birth | 1 Dec 1877, Vienna, AUSTRIA |
| baptism | |
| death | .......... |
| burial |
PARENTS
| father | Johann GRAF b. ......, Vienna, AUSTRIA |
| mother | Anna ......... b. ....., Varska, HUNGARY |
| children |
|
LIFE
Managing Director of Edison in Berlin
Early in 1910 Edison's recording expert Thomas Graf and an assistant by the name of Bocchi were sent to Europe to make cylinder and disc masters (Tinfoil p. 192)
Until 1 Nov 1915 manager of Edison Gesellschaft in Berlin (from 1904)
Edison Gesellschaft: This German company began operating in Berlin on April 1, 1904. It succeeded the National Phonograph Company, Berlin, an unincorporated business, and it sold phonographs, kinetoscopes and films, primary batteries, numbering machines, and other Edison products. Thomas Graf served as manager until November 1, 1915. The company ceased operations shortly after the onset of World War I, although it continued to maintain a small office until Graf's resignation. It was legally dissolved on April 12, 1926.
Several ELLIS ISLAND citings:
Lawyer
Thomas GRAF ( y)
SS “KAISER WILHELM II”
3 July 1906, Bremen, GERMANY
10 July 1906, New York
(29y) commercial traveler
To conference of National Phonograph Co.
residence: Berlin, GERMANY
Thomas GRAF
SS “GRAF WALDERSEE”
1 Aug 1910, Boulogne-sur-Mer
12 Aug 1910, New York
(32y) managing director
see pp 62-63/66 of Edison Phonograph. The British Connection by Frank Andrews)
last permanent residence: London, ENGLAND
director
SS “KRONPRINZ WILHELM”
29 Oct. 1912, Bremen, GERMANY
5 Nov 1912, New York
(Edison Company, East Orange, NJ)
SS “KAISER WILHELM II”
24 Febr 1914, Bremen, GERMANY
3 Mar 1914, New York
Managing Director Edison Works
SS “IMPERATOR”
11 Mar 1914, Hamburg
19 Mar 1914, New York
19 May 1914
Visited USA in 1887-1899 / 1900-1901
WWI Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
Thomas Graf (40y)
Bridgeport, Fairfield, CT
NOTES
- "Amerikanische Sprechmaschinen in Deutschland" (in: Phonographische Zeitschrift of 15 Feb 1906) picture of Thomas Graf
- Edison Phonograph. The British Connection by Frank Andrews (The City of London Phonograph and Gramophone Society, 1986), pp. 62-63, 66
- From Tinfoil to Stereo
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