History of Sound Recording Technologies

Who took over the National Phonograph Company after Thomas Edison?

What innovation did Emile Berliner introduce with his version of the Gramophone?

What was the name of the company founded by Eldridge R. Johnson?

In what year did RCA acquire the Victor Talking Machine Company?

What was the product name given to the machine developed by Eldridge R. Johnson?

What was the primary intention behind Edouard-Léon Scott de Martinville's invention of the Phonautograph?

Which feature did Alexander Graham Bell and Clarence Blake incorporate in their 1874 sound recording machine?

What significant advancement did Edison achieve with his 1877 invention related to the phonograph?

How did Bell and Tainter improve upon Edison's phonograph in 1879?

What was the name of the improved machine developed by Bell and Tainter in 1881?

Which song did researchers decipher from a Phonautograph recording in 2008?

When did Thomas Edison secure a patent for his improved Gramophone?

What technology was used by Edison to create sound recordings in his 1877 device?

The Phonautograph

Invented by Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville in 1857 in France
Designed to "photograph the word"
Utilized a horn, membrane, and stylus to etch markings on lampblack-covered paper
Sound was never played back, but intended to analyze markings
In 2008, a Phonautograph recording from 1860 was deciphered, revealing a human voice singing "Au Clair de Lune"

The Graphophone

Alexander Graham Bell and Clarence Blake built a machine in 1874 using a real human ear to vibrate a stylus for etching
Intended to teach deaf individuals
Thomas Edison's invention, in 1877, recorded onto a tin foil cylinder, inspired by an automatic telegraph receiver
It could record up to 1,000 words per minute, making it ideal for long messages

The Evolution of the Gramophone

Alexander Graham Bell and Charles Sumner Tainter improved Edison's phonograph in 1879
The tin foil cylinder was replaced with a more durable wax cylinder
Their machine, the Graphophone, was made in 1881
Patent granted in 1886 to Chichester Bell and Tainter

Edison's Contributions

1892 - Edison purchased a license for Bell's patent and improved his original design
He formed the National Phonograph Company in 1896, and later Edison Records
His son, Charles Edison, took over the company from 1927 to 1957
They sold wax cylinders widely, supplying companies like Columbia Records

Berliner's Gramophone

German-American Emile Berliner obtained a patent for his version of the Gramophone in 1887
He replaced the cylinder with a zinc disc coated in wax
The stylus traced a line on the wax
The disc was then acidized to create playable grooves
Berliner's design allowed for molding and stamping, enabling mass production

Marketing and Legacy

1890 - Berliner granted Frank Seaman exclusive sales rights in the U.S.
Berliner moved to Montreal after disagreements with Seaman
Eldrige R. Johnson, who had developed a motor for Berliner's Gramophone, retained patent rights
He founded Victor Talking Machine Company, launching the Victrola
In 1926, the company was sold to a banking firm, which then sold it to RCA in 1929, forming RCA Victor.

Explore the fascinating journey of sound recording from the Phonautograph invented by Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville to the advancements made by Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison. This quiz covers the key inventions and their significance in sound recording history. Test your knowledge on the evolution of these groundbreaking technologies!