| Year |
Event |
Submitted By |
| 1877 |
The idea for the phonograph comes to Thomas Edison while experimenting with a method for automatically recording telegraph messages. Edison becomes the first man in history to record his voice when he speaks the words "Mary had a little lamb" into the very first recording horn. Edison not only invents the first sound recording device, he invents the first recording device of any kind except for the still picture (which was invented in 1839). Edison files the first patent for a sound recording device. He even coins the word phonograph to describe his invention. |
ETAF Staff |
| 1878 |
The first patents are issued to Edison in January 1878, covering both disk and cylinder recording. The Edison "Speaking Phonograph Company" is formed. Edison gets so absorbed in perfecting the electric light that he gives up his work on the phonograph. |
ETAF Staff |
| 1880 |
Edison introduces the Wax Cylinder for sound recording. |
ETAF Staff |
| 1881 |
Chichester Bell and Charles Summer Tainter, two Washington experimenters, develop an instrument that plays wax cylinders instead of tinfoil. Bell's brother, Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone, helps them with there research. |
ETAF Staff |
| 1886 |
Edison resumes work on the phonograph. Bell and Tainter patent the "Graphophon". |
ETAF Staff |
| 1887 |
The American Graphophone Company is organized. Emile Berliner develops the first disc record. He also patents a so-called Matrix system for making unlimited copies of the disc from a "master". |
ETAF Staff |
| 1888 |
Edison devises his own improved phonograph. The first recordings of celebrity voices are made on an experimental basis at Edison's lab in West Orange, NJ. The North American Phonograph Company is organized. The first classical music is recorded. Because the quality is so bad, many classical musicians are loathe to record fearing their reputation will be hurt. "Gang" recording becomes the commercial reproduction technique of choice wherein a group of individual machines are "ganged" together to make multiple record copies. The average output of these machines is 200 copies per day. Emil Berliner produces his so-called "Master Disc", a 125mm (5 inch) rubber disc recorded on one side only, with the song lyric printed on the reverse side. Later, the rubber is replaced with shellac made from crushed Malaysian Beetles. |
ETAF Staff |
| 1889 |
The Columbia Phonograph Company is incorporated. The first commercial gramophones and records are manufactured in Germany. The first coin operated phonograph are installed at the Palais Royal Saloon in San Francisco. |
ETAF Staff |
| 1890 |
Edison records small quantities of cylinders known at first as "phonograms," which were sold by North American Phonograph Co. The first recording list consists entirely of brass bands, parlor orchestras, instrumental numbers, and vocal quartets. German born Emile Berliner produces his "gramophone" using flat discs. The first commercial disc recordings are sold by Emile Berliner in Europe. The first commercial cylinder recordings are put on sale in the US. |
ETAF Staff |
| 1891 |
Nickel-in-the-slot phonographs catch public fancy. Gianni Bettini begins selling cylinder recordings by famous opera singers. Kinetoscope, an early kind of motion picture projector, is developed by Thomas Edison. |
ETAF Staff |
| 1894 |
Berliner markets the first disc recordings that were not toys. Pathe brothers begin manufacturing phonographs and cylinders in France. The American Graphophone Co. introduces the first spring-driven talking machines for home use. The North American Phonograph Company goes bankrupt. |
ETAF Staff |
| 1896 |
Edison organizes the National Phonograph Co. Regular production of wax cylinders under the Edison name begins. |
ETAF Staff |
| 1897 |
Eldridge Johnson produces an Improved Gramophone. Columbia establishes itself as the pioneer in making cylinders for use in slot machine parlors and penny arcades and for home entertainment. |
ETAF Staff |
| 1899 |
Frank Seaman begins manufacturing the Zonophone. Valdermar Poulsen of Denmark develops the first tape recorder. Gianni Bettini patents his Micro-Phonograph. |
ETAF Staff |
| 1900 |
E. Johnson starts selling gramophones and records; he introduces the wax-recorded disc. |
ETAF Staff |
| 1901 |
The Victor Talking Machine Company is incorporated. Edison and Columbia make the first mass produced hard-wax molded cylinders. The Gramophone Co. issues the first Red Label celebrity discs in Russia. |
ETAF Staff |
| 1902 |
Enrico Caruso records for the Gramophone Co. in Milan, Italy. Columbia issues disc records. |
ETAF Staff |
| 1903 |
Columbia markets first records made in America recorded by celebrities. Victor records it's first Red Seal disc. The Columbia Company and Thomas Edison begin routinely releasing music recordings. Columbia manufactures the first custom label for Sears and Harvard. |
ETAF Staff |
| 1904 |
Caruso becomes an exclusive artist for Victor records. The Fonotipia Company is formed in Milan. Odeon issues the first double-sided records. Columbia introduces double-faced laminated records. The first long-playing records, which were recorded on 20 inch discs, were produced by the Neophone Co. in London, England. |
ETAF Staff |
| 1905 |
Variety was founded in New York as the official trade paper of the live theater industry. The first coin-operated phonograph using cylinder records is introduced by John C. Dunton. The player piano which can be played manually or can play rolls of pre-encoded music is introduced. |
ETAF Staff |
