Volume 12 , Issue 49

History of the Edison Disc Phonograph

Remember the old wind-up phonographs, especially the Edison? I was doing some research on them recently and found out some things I did not know. Such as cylinder phonographs peaked in popularity around 1905. After 1905, the discs and disc players, most notably the Victrolas, began to dominate the market. Columbia records, an Edison competitor, had stopped marketing cylinders in 1912. I am still searching for the old disc phonograph that I had stored at my parents home during their probate. It was not an Edison, though. I think it was a Columbia disc phonograph.

The Edison company had been fully devoted to cylinder phonographs, but edition associates began developing their own disc player and discs in secret.

Dr. Jonas Aylsworth, chief chemist for Edison, and later after his retirement in 1903, a consultant for the company, took charge of developing a plastic material for the discs. The aim was to produce a superior-sounding disc that would out perform the rivals' shellac records, which were prone to wear and warping.

Another difference from competitors' discs was that the vertical-cut method was to be used for the grooves. In this manner, the stylus would bob up and down in the groove, rather than from side to side or laterally. Ten-inch records would run for 5 minutes per side at approximately 80 r.p.m.

The new Edison Disc Phonograph was shown for the first time publicly at the Fifth Annual Convention for the National Association of Talking Machine Jobbers at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 10-13th, 1911. Press reported that the new machine was based on Edison's British 1878 patent in order to deter claims of copyright infringement with Victor or Berliner.

The new machine was also mentioned in the Edison Phonograph Monthly in July of 1911, but it was over a year before disc players or discs would be offered for sale.

By the end of 1912, three basic models of the Edison Disc Phonograph had been designed, ranging in price from $150 to $250, and the company salesmen took them around the country. Soon after, the choice of models was extended to feature less expensive players and luxury machines in stylish wood cabinets.

Prices for the discs started from $1.15 to $4.25, but later came down to $1.35 to $2.25. The discs were expensive to make because of the complicated chemical processes used for them.

The Edison cabinets were deemed to be less attractive than the Victrolas, and customers were required to buy Edison discs only for Edison players, since they were not compatible with other players. Edison claimed that his records could be played 1,000 times without wear.

For MORE INFO on the disc phonographs click this link. Here are some other wind-up Edison phonographs, model c19 chippendale edison diamond disc phonograph 1919 that we are interested in researching - 1916 C19 Edison Disc Phonograph - Edison C19 CHIPPENDALE PHONOGRAPH DISC PLAYER.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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