SALLOW AUDIO ENGINEERING “HARLAN” PHONOGRAPH, IN WORKING ORDER
WITH ORIGINAL CRYSTAL HORN, 1914
Original Item Description:
This unique and truly one-of-a-kind phonograph was commissioned by Mr. Edric Harlan in 1914
from the short-lived Sallow Audio Engineering manufacturing company. The crystal horn was
cut from a single piece of quartz of unknown origin supplied by Sallow Audio, and the
bloodwood base was salvaged from the surviving pieces of Mr. Harlan’s childhood home,
incinerated in an oil lamp accident in 1878. Runic symbols gilded in silver on the musical
cylinders reflect Mr. Harlan’s interest in the occult and spiritualistic studies, a then-popular
pastime for the social elite.
After Mr. Harlan’s death in 1915, the phonograph was passed on to his daughter, who later fell
victim to the Spanish Flu in 1920. His brother, Mr. Wilfred Harlan, then came into possession of the phonograph, who sold it for five dollars at a pawn shop after The Great Crash in 1929, where
it was lost to time until recently rediscovered by Volta in 2007.
SALLOW AUDIO ENGINEERING “HARLAN” PHONOGRAPH
Lot #5820
SOLD on 2008/06/20 to PRIVATE BIDDER for $4100
RETURN: “HARLAN” PHONOGRAPH
Returned on 2009/04/15. PRIVATE BIDDER refused commission offer
SALLOW AUDIO ENGINEERING “HARLAN” PHONOGRAPH
Lot #2049
SOLD on 2009/08/30 for $3750 to Elise Bell
RETURN: “HARLAN” PHONOGRAPH
Purchased for $100 from the late Elise Bell’s Estate Sale on 2011/02/24.
Damage: Stained with brown flakes on crystal horn and bloodwood base. Carefully cleaned.
Purchasing agent was unaware of Volta’s previous acquisitions of this same phonograph.
Get legal to check if we have to disclose Mrs. Bell’s murder-suicide.
SALLOW AUDIO ENGINEERING “HARLAN” PHONOGRAPH
Lot #3701
SOLD on 2011/05/13 for $3875 to Lamonte Johnson.
RETURN: “HARLAN” PHONOGRAPH
Returned on 2011/05/18. Mr. Johnson complained of strange headache-inducing noises from the
phonograph. Client threatened legal action for false advertisement. Refunded for full price.
Tested phonograph at warehouse. Sounds fine. Warehouse employees love it.
SALLOW AUDIO ENGINEERING “HARLAN” PHONOGRAPH
Lot #1903
SOLD on 2011/08/19 for $4400 to PRIVATE BIDDER.
(How many times have we sold this thing? Someone get an intern to make a spreadsheet.)
RETURN: “HARLAN” PHONOGRAPH
Reappeared in warehouse on 2012/06/07. No receipt of sale attached and no one recalls re-acquiring the item. Attempted contact with PRIVATE BIDDER, was informed by son he had
passed away, refused to give details. Does not know how phonograph came into our possession.
Son did not want phonograph returned or refunded, told intern to “never call again.
INCIDENT REPORT
DATE: 2012/09/03
TIME: 16:30
LOCATION: MAIN WAREHOUSE
PARTIES INVOLVED: Stella Everett, David Kim, Thomas Robinson Jr., Manuel Rodriguez,
Grace Shin
INCIDENT DESCRIPTION:
Warehouse employees (Everett, Kim, Robinson, Rodriguez, Shin) were playing the “HARLAN”
PHONOGRAPH despite repeated warnings to leave that item alone, as they had developed an
unhealthy obsession with it after its previous return in 2011. Warehouse employees had been
given adequate training and were aware of company policy not to handle any merchandise
outside of necessity.
An argument over the phonograph escalated to physical violence, resulting in the deaths of Mrs.
Everett, Mr. Kim, Mr. Robinson, and Mr. Rodriguez. From reviewing security footage, it appears
the parties involved spontaneously attacked each other with tools and other nearby merchandise,
despite previously being on reportedly “good terms.”
After the initial violence, Ms. Shin impaled Mr. Robinson with a forklift. Ms. Shin had had her
eye gouged out by Mr. Robinson and had been stabbed with a medieval dagger by Mrs. Everett,
who she then strangled. Ms. Shin survived her wounds.
ACTION TAKEN:
Incident has been reported to the local authorities and camera footage turned over to detectives
for investigation. Ms. Shin was arrested on scene. “HARLAN” PHONOGRAPH has been
removed from the warehouse and locked in a secure safe in Mr. George Thornton’s private
office.
INCIDENT REPORT
DATE: 2012/09/25
TIME: 07:00
LOCATION: CEO’s private office
PARTIES INVOLVED: Mr. George Thornton, Mrs. Renée Murphy
INCIDENT DESCRIPTION:
Cleaning maid found Mr. Thornton hanging from his tie early this morning, by a hook he
evidently installed in the ceiling himself. The “HARLAN” PHONOGRAPH was notably on Mr.
Thornton’s desk, playing a warped cylinder on loop. There were long scratches on the walls and
inside of the door, likely caused by Mr. Thornton as several of his nails appeared to have been
broken off. Mrs. Murphy alleges the office door was unlocked when she arrived. Furthermore,
the office keys were found in Mr. Thornton’s coat pocket.
No suicide note has been found.
ACTION TAKEN:
The local authorities and Mr. Thornton’s family have been notified. Awaiting
autopsy report. The Board will meet to discuss selecting a new CEO after Mr. Thornton’s
funeral.
SALLOW AUDIO ENGINEERING “HARLAN” PHONOGRAPH
SOLD on 2013/01/19 for $15 to Susan Meadows.
Addendum: do not repurchase or accept return of item under any circumstances. Any employee
who reacquires the item will be immediately terminated.
RETURN: “HARLAN” PHONOGRAPH
Returned on 2013/03/22 by the late Mrs. Susan Meadows daughter, Ms. Ann Meadows.
Receptionist refused to refund or take back the phonograph, as previously directed. Ms.
Meadows then physically assaulted the receptionist before throwing the phonograph at him and
running away. Authorities were called and charges pressed against Ms. Meadows.
“HARLAN” PHONOGRAPH has been marked for destruction on 2013/03/25.
News Clipping:
THE CARLTON HERALD
2013/03/26
CARLTON, Ct.: A large fire broke out at the Volta International Auctions main warehouse early
yesterday morning. The flames quickly spread to Volta’s office buildings, forcing nearby
neighbors to evacuate. After hours of battling the blaze, firefighters were finally able to contain
and extinguish the fire.
At least 30 people were reported to have mild to serious wounds, including multiple firefighters
suffering from smoke inhalation. Eight fatalities were reported on site, with a further five
succumbing to their injuries at the hospital so far.
An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.
Soon Jones is a Korean lesbian writer originating from the rural countryside of the American South. Soon’s work has been published in the Gilded Glass Anthology, Typehouse Literary Magazine, and Moon City Review, among others, and can be found at soonjones.com.