Phonograph Cylinder [Edison]
Maker and role
Thomas A. Edison Incorporated, Manufacturer
Production date
Circa 1912
See full details
Object detail
Accession number
2023.125
Production period
Description
Edison Phonograph Cylinder.
Part 1: Green cylindrical cardboard tube lined with white textile. On the outside of the tube, “Form No. 2025 NOVEMBER 15, 1911. […] / COPYPYRIGHT 1900 BY THOMAS A. EDISON INC. ORANGE. N.J. U.S.A. / TRADEMARK / Thomas A Edison / REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. / No. / EDISON / AMBEROL / REG. US. PAT. OFF. / RECORD / FOUR MINUTE. / MANUFACTURED BY / THOMAS A. EDISON, INCORPORATED, / AT ORANGE, N.J., U.S.A. / PATENTED IN THE UNITED STATES / OCT. 1, 1901, […] / OTHER PATENTS PENDING. / PATENTED IN / GREAT BRITAIN, GERMANY, / FRANCE AND OTHER COUNTRIES. / […] / THOMAS A. EDISON, INCORPORATED” is printed along with an image of Thomas Edison. On the base of the tube, “2240 / 80 / 1904 / 476. / 179200 / 11200 / (40) / 19 400” is handwritten in pencil.
Part 2: Green cardboard lid for phonograph cylinder tube. On the top of the lid “THIS RECORD SHOULD RUN 160 REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE [?] FASTER OR SLOWER / EDISON AMBEROL [RECO]RD / 4 MIN. / 12414 / THE EMPEROR PASSES - / PATROL / (VOLLSTEDT) / H. M. IRISH GUARDS BAND” is printed.
Part 3: Black wax phonograph cylinder which is open at both ends and hollow through the centre. “THE EMPEROR PASSES. PATROL. H.M. IRISH GUARDS BAND. Thomas A Edison BPAT’D 34M 12414” is engraved and painted white on the top rim.
Part 1: Green cylindrical cardboard tube lined with white textile. On the outside of the tube, “Form No. 2025 NOVEMBER 15, 1911. […] / COPYPYRIGHT 1900 BY THOMAS A. EDISON INC. ORANGE. N.J. U.S.A. / TRADEMARK / Thomas A Edison / REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. / No. / EDISON / AMBEROL / REG. US. PAT. OFF. / RECORD / FOUR MINUTE. / MANUFACTURED BY / THOMAS A. EDISON, INCORPORATED, / AT ORANGE, N.J., U.S.A. / PATENTED IN THE UNITED STATES / OCT. 1, 1901, […] / OTHER PATENTS PENDING. / PATENTED IN / GREAT BRITAIN, GERMANY, / FRANCE AND OTHER COUNTRIES. / […] / THOMAS A. EDISON, INCORPORATED” is printed along with an image of Thomas Edison. On the base of the tube, “2240 / 80 / 1904 / 476. / 179200 / 11200 / (40) / 19 400” is handwritten in pencil.
Part 2: Green cardboard lid for phonograph cylinder tube. On the top of the lid “THIS RECORD SHOULD RUN 160 REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE [?] FASTER OR SLOWER / EDISON AMBEROL [RECO]RD / 4 MIN. / 12414 / THE EMPEROR PASSES - / PATROL / (VOLLSTEDT) / H. M. IRISH GUARDS BAND” is printed.
Part 3: Black wax phonograph cylinder which is open at both ends and hollow through the centre. “THE EMPEROR PASSES. PATROL. H.M. IRISH GUARDS BAND. Thomas A Edison BPAT’D 34M 12414” is engraved and painted white on the top rim.
Brief History
Edison wax Amberol cylinder records were introduced to the market in 1908. They were produced from a harder material than previously used which allowed for twice the number of grooves per inch and therefore twice the playing time. This was the first type of cylinder record to have a 4-minute playing time. While not technically made from wax, the metallic soap compound used had a waxy feel and was mouldable like some waxes. This material was still quite fragile so became obsolete when the ‘indestructible’ Edison Blue Amberol cylinders were released from 1912.
The increased run time of the 4-minute cylinders meant that they were incompatible on older phonographs without modification to the machine. Thomas A. Edison Incorporated began producing phonographs that played the newer Amberol cylinders, known as Amberolas. Machines were also produced with a mechanism that could switch between the different cylinder types.
This cylinder contains a recording of the Band of H.M. Irish Guards performing ‘The Emperor Passes Patrol’ and was released in 1912.
The increased run time of the 4-minute cylinders meant that they were incompatible on older phonographs without modification to the machine. Thomas A. Edison Incorporated began producing phonographs that played the newer Amberol cylinders, known as Amberolas. Machines were also produced with a mechanism that could switch between the different cylinder types.
This cylinder contains a recording of the Band of H.M. Irish Guards performing ‘The Emperor Passes Patrol’ and was released in 1912.
Marks
Form No. 2025 NOVEMBER 15, 1911. […] / COPYPYRIGHT 1900 BY THOMAS A. EDISON INC. ORANGE. N.J. U.S.A. / TRADEMARK / Thomas A Edison / REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. / No. / EDISON / AMBEROL / REG. US. PAT. OFF. / RECORD / FOUR MINUTE. / MANUFACTURED BY / THOMAS A. EDISON, INCORPORATED, / AT ORANGE, N.J., U.S.A. / PATENTED IN THE UNITED STATES / OCT. 1, 1901, […] / OTHER PATENTS PENDING. / PATENTED IN / GREAT BRITAIN, GERMANY, / FRANCE AND OTHER COUNTRIES. / […] / THOMAS A. EDISON, INCORPORATED Printed
2240 / 80 / 1904 / 476. / 179200 / 11200 / (40) / 19 400 Hand-written
THIS RECORD SHOULD RUN 160 REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE [?] FASTER OR SLOWER / EDISON AMBEROL [RECO]RD / 4 MIN. / 12414 / THE EMPEROR PASSES - / PATROL / (VOLLSTEDT) / H. M. IRISH GUARDS BAND Printed
THE EMPEROR PASSES. PATROL. H.M. IRISH GUARDS BAND. Thomas A Edison BPAT’D 34M 12414 Engraved
2240 / 80 / 1904 / 476. / 179200 / 11200 / (40) / 19 400 Hand-written
THIS RECORD SHOULD RUN 160 REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE [?] FASTER OR SLOWER / EDISON AMBEROL [RECO]RD / 4 MIN. / 12414 / THE EMPEROR PASSES - / PATROL / (VOLLSTEDT) / H. M. IRISH GUARDS BAND Printed
THE EMPEROR PASSES. PATROL. H.M. IRISH GUARDS BAND. Thomas A Edison BPAT’D 34M 12414 Engraved
Media/Materials
Credit Line
Thomas A. Edison Incorporated. Circa 1912. Phonograph Cylinder [Edison], 2023.125. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
On display?
On display
Public comments
Be the first to comment on this object record.