
However, the wheel of time had been set in motion. This invention was a novelty that did not sell well, and Edison ultimately went on to pursue other inventions, including his best-known lightbulb. That foil wrapped around a cylinder and was hand-cranked to “record” the sounds.

His phonograph, which he sometimes referred to as a "speaking machine," used a steel needle that would carve the sound vibrations from a spoken voice into a sheet of tin foil. At the time, previous inventors had created devices that could record sounds however, it wasn't until Edison's invention that a machine could reproduce that recorded sound output. In 1877, Thomas Edison created the phonograph.
1950s record player shelf pro#
If you’re new to vinyl and starting your own collection, check out some of Victrola’s tips for starting a vinyl collection alongside the information below about record player history, and you’ll be a pro in no time!īelow, we will chart record players history, starting with Edison and ending in the modern era. Edison’s phonograph was a critical first step in sound recording, but there have been a number of innovations in the decades following.Īlthough 8-track ta pes, cassette tapes, CDs, and digital media have all had their time in the sun, vinyl records have managed to maintain a loyal fanbase throughout the last century and have seen a massive resurgence in popularity in recent years.

Edison’s invention, which he named the phonograph, utilized the same principles as a modern record player.

In 1877, Thomas Edison became the first person to record and reproduce his voice. Humans have kept records of their experiences for hundreds of thousands of years, first with images and later with sound.
