History of the Phonograph

Thomas Edison’s Invention

In 1877, Thomas Edison invented the
phonograph using a combination of the
phonautograph, the telegraph and the telephone.
His goal was to transcribe messages from the
telegraph to a piece of paper tape. The
transcribed messages would then be in a format
that allowed the individual to send out the same
message repeatedly via a telegraph.
After Edison realized that his device may have
other applications in relation to the telephone, he
worked to develop a strategy to record sounds.
He developed a device that would use one
needle to record the sounds onto a cylinder with
tin foil. A second needle was used to replay the
sounds via the phonograph. After working with
John Kruesi to build the device, he recorded the
nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb” and
then played the rhyme over the invention.
Edison filed a patent for the phonograph on
December 24, 1877 and the patent was issued on February 19, 1878.

Recording and Playing Sounds

The goal of the phonograph was to record sounds and then replay the sounds. Thomas Edison
succeeded with his device, but lost interest in the development of the device when the public lost
interest in the initial invention. He stepped away from the invention and making improvements
to the sound for a few years.

In 1880, Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone and he used the money he earned from
his invention to work on new inventions and developments. He took Edison’s original
phonograph and started making adjustments and changes to improve the device. A key problem
with the original phonograph was the use of tin plates for the recording. The tin wore out quickly
from the rigid needle, which resulted in complications when using the tool. Alexander Graham
Bell used a floating stylus to play back the sounds and music. He also started using wax instead
of tin foil for the recordings, which made them more durable and long-lasting. He called the new
device the graphophone.

Although the adjustments improved on the original design, Thomas Edison decided to make
changes to his original invention personally. His changes focused on perfecting his invention. He
then started his own company to sell the new and improved phonograph.

Here from our archives is a “top ten” list of phonograph applications Edison thought would rock
the world in 1878 – a year after his phonograph patent was awarded. Here we go …
1. Letter writing, and all kinds of dictation without the aid of a stenographer.

2. Photographic books, which will speak to blind people without effort on their part.

3. The teaching of elocution.

4. Music-the phonograph will undoubtedly be liberally devoted to music.

5. The family record; preserving the sayings, the voices, and the last words of the dying members
of the family, as of great men.

6. Music boxes, toys, etc. – A doll which may speak, sing, cry or laugh may be promised our
children for the Christmas holidays ensuing.

7. Clocks, that should announce in speech the hour of the day, call you to lunch, send your lover
home at ten, etc.

8. The preservation of language by reproduction of our Washingtons, our Lincolns, our

Gladstones.

9. Educational purposes; such as preserving the instructions of a teacher so that the pupil can
refer to them at any moment; or learn spelling lessons.

10. The perfection or advancement of the telephone’s art by the phonograph, making that
instrument an auxiliary in the transmission of permanent records.