1. The Phonograph

2. It all started in 1877
Thomas Edison was working on the invention of the telegraph and telephone
Discovered that the telephone message could be recorded

3. Gave a sketch of the machine to his mechanic, who built it in 30 hours
Edison immediately tested the machine by saying mary had a little lamb and it played it back!

4. It all started in 1877 Thomas Edison How did it work?
“Mary Had a little lamb”
Thomas Edison
How did it work?
Energy from sound waves pressed into a foil or wax coated cylinder
Edison immediately tested the machine by saying mary had a little lamb and it played it back!

5. How did the phonograph work???

6. Then in 1887
The flat gramophone disc (or phonograph disc) was invented by Emile Berliner
More durable, cheaper, easier to use

7. 1890: Machines in public places called nickelodeons played the discs for a nickel
Modern day jukebox

8. By 1900:
Columbia Records & Victor Talking Machine Company were the main companies
1902: 12” disc – the “78 rpm” was invented
Revolutions per minute

9. Each disc held 4 minutes of music
1904: Double sided 78 discs

10. Impact
Used for at least 40 years until the 33 rpm 45 rpm discs were put into use

11. Early phonographs
Used at beginning to preserve voices, not music
Presidential speeches, for instance

12. 1st Musical recording:
Enrico Caruso: recorded opera arias in London (1902)

13. Effects – Good & Bad
If you had a “Victrola”, you were considered to be “moving on up” in the world

14. However:
Initial public reaction was dislike: technological advancement was distracting young people
Has this happened before?

15. Popularity 1904: 1 of every 22 houses had a phonograph
1909: 26 million discs/cylinders were produced

16. Discussion…
Do you get the same musical “effect” of listening to a live vs recorded piece of music?

17. Questions
You have an hour (by yourself):
Same amount of $
Listen to a CD of music
Go to a concert

18. You have an hour (with friends):
Same amount of $
Listen to a CD of music
Go to a concert
Is the answer to both different? Why? What changes?