Allison-Antrim Museum

                                     Greencastle, PA

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“The Sounds of Yesteryear”

 Edison Phonographs

 June 13 and 17, 2004
 From the collections of  Mike Burger

 

Introduction

While Thomas Alva Edison (1842-1931) was working on the telegraph in 1877, he began to question the idea of a telephone message being recorded. Edison used a diaphragm – “the flexible, circular vibrating membrane of a soundbox or reproducer which converts mechanical energy to acoustic energy or sound waves.” The diaphragm had a sharp point. When he held the point against fast moving paraffin paper, the speaking vibrations made grooves in the paper. 

The paper was later changed to a metal cylinder wrapped in tin foil. Edison’s machine included two diaphragm and needle components, one was for recording and the other was for playback. By speaking into the mouthpiece, the recording needle created indentations on the cylinder from the sound vibrations.

John Kreusi was Edison’s mechanic who made the machine within 30 hours. Edison first tested the machine by reciting the “Mary had a Little Lamb” nursery rhyme. Imagine Edison’s surprise when the machine not only repeated the nursery rhyme, but in his own voice.

Edison filed for a patent on December 24, 1877, which was issued on February 19, 1878. However, to advertise the new machine, the Edison Speaking Phonograph Company was established a month prior, on January 24th. Edison was given $10,000 for manufacturing and sales rights, and he would also receive 20% of the profits.

This was just the beginning of the phonograph. For the next 50 years, the phonograph and the cylinder improved; in the words of technology today, they were upgraded. As you walk through the exhibit, use this guide to take you back to the “Sounds of Yesteryear.” Learn about Edison, the phonograph, and a couple other tidbits along the way.

Cylinders

Look around the table and you may ask yourself, “What do all these round containers have to do with phonographs?” Well, they are cylinders. A cylinder is “a geometric form on which entertainment recordings were made.” If you take a look at “The Evolution of Cylinders,” located on the table, you will see how cylinders were made in 1877 and how they progressed up to 1912.

Horns

Also located on the table is information on “The Evolution of Horns.” The two phonographs on this table are examples of an internal horn phonograph and an external horn phonograph.

Edison Amberola 30 (circa 1914)

First on display is the Edison Amberola 30 which was the smallest internal horn cylinder machine which is capable of playing four-minute cylinders. The evolution from external to internal horns took the horn from above the machine (a separate unit) to inside the machine. The manufacturing of external horns declined significantly after 1913.

 

 

Edison Home Phonograph (circa 1908) with the Flower Horn

Earlier models of the Home Phonograph play two-minute cylinders. This Edison Home Phonograph plays two-minute and four-minute cylinders. The crane (horn support) fits under the front of the phonograph to hold up the Flower horn.

 

 

Edison Diamond Disc “William and Mary” Cabinet (circa 1919)

Edison’s chief chemist, Dr. Jonas Aylsworth, was working on a plastic material for discs. His goal was to make a top-quality disc that would outdo the manufacturing rivals’ shellac records (known for wearing and warping.) Their ten-inch records ran for five minutes on each side.

The finished Edison ten-inch discs weighed ten ounces and were ¼ of an inch thick. A diamond point was used as the stylus (needle), which moved from side-to-side. The discs were expensive because of the complex chemical processes used to make them. However, Edison claimed that “his records could be played 1,000 times without wear.”

The Disc Phonograph and the Edison Discs were designed to be an entire system. In late 1912, there were three basic models. By 1929, the Edison Company introduced the Edison Portable Disc Phonograph, a complete package, which offered the Diamond Discs, the new steel needle records, and a converter for the needle which allowed older discs to be played with the new steel needle.

 

Edison Fireside Phonograph (circa 1905) with Black-and-Brass Horn

The Fireside Combination Cylinder Phonograph, Model A, plays both the two-minute and four-minute cylinders. This simple model fit into the Edison line between the larger Standard and the smaller Gem.

 

 

Edison “Standard” Horn

Edison’s “Standard” horn was also known as the black morning glory horn. These “flower” or petalled horns were very popular by 1904 and remained in the market for several years.

 Edison Standard Phonograph (circa 1908) with Cygnet Horn

The Edison Standard Phonograph was manufactured and exhibited in the press by 1898. This was the first phonograph to carry the Edison trademark design. These phonographs play two or four-minute cylinder records, depending on model and state of "upgrade." They often had large Cygnet (French for swan) horns made of metal or wood. Because of their weight, the Cygnet horn requires support for its upright position.

 

 

Uncle Josh

Many of the cylinders on the table are recordings of an all-time favorite performer from the early 1900s. Cal Stewart (1856-1919) spent much of his younger years working in circuses, medicine shows and vaudeville. In 1897, Stewart started recording comic shows in which he played Uncle Josh Weathersby. His comic monologues consisted of Uncle Josh’s experiences as a country bumpkin in a small rural town and Uncle Josh’s experiences in New York City.

Disc Talking Machines

These two phonographs play 78 rpm discs (records). When the internal-horn Victor-Victrola (a brand name) was introduced in 1906, it made a huge impact in the talking machine industry. The competitor market began to escalate with the many brands of these phonographs.

Several inventors and manufacturers offered an array of disc-related products such as, shaped needles of steel and ivory, record brushes, dancing toys, needle sharpeners and needle tins. Some of the Victor-Victrolas were sold with a kit that included everything a buyer would need to benefit from his/her purchase. The “Victor Records” books on the table are available for you to examine.

Nipper

The little ceramic dog you see on display has been a popular icon since the early 1900s. Francis Barruad painted his dog “Nipper” listening to “His Master’s Voice” on the phonograph in 1898- three years after Nipper died. In 1910, the painting and title were registered as a trademark.

The fox terrier was a symbol of the Gramophone Company, and was later the mascot of the Victor Talking Machine Company, which became RCA Victor Company in 1929. The company logo was an illustration of Nipper sitting beside an Edison phonograph record player, listening attentively, with his head tilted. Nipper appeared in several commercials and print ads.

“His Master’s Voice” label had a special status in music business and in the public eye. Nipper is a symbol that is still treasured by many collectors.

Thank You

Compiled by Rebecca M. Elgin
June 2, 2004

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