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This weeks artifact spotlight is the Edison Amberola Cylinder Phonograph, circa 1916. This phonograph was donated by the Parnell Brothers Estate in 1987.
Thomas Edison began working in 1877 on a machine that could record speech or sound and play it back. The machine would etch grooves from the sound vibrations into a material, at first tin, and later wax that would play back the sound by running a needle over the etched grooves. These early machines would be used for dictation, recording family records and memories, and music boxes and toy dolls. Edison is pictured on the left with an early model.
As Edison continued to make improvements on the phonograph itself, improvements continued on the cylinders themselves. The first commercial ones were white and consisted on ceresin and beeswax. Later cylinders that were massed produced beginning in 1901 were black in color and cost 35 cents each. These were labeled Gold Molded. The final cylinders produced were blue in color, had better sound quality, and touted indestructible.
The beveled end of the cylinders had the song title, singer, and other information engraved on it.
Want to know more? Click the yellow button to visit the Library of Congress History of the the Phonograph:
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This weeks artifact spotlight is a 1893 Chicago World’s Fair Ruby Flashed Glass. These types of souvenirs were very popular in the late 1800’s to the 1920’s due to their unique color and ability to be personalized quickly. This artifact was donated by Mrs. Alan Denning.
Etched on one side of the cup “Worlds Fair 1893”. On the opposite side was personalized with “Mrs. A. Denning”.
The World’s Colombian Exposition (World’s Fair) celebrated the 401 year anniversary of Columbus' voyage. Exhibits featured artifacts and specimens from around the world few had ever seen. More than 27 million people attended the six month fair.
The grand “White City” as it became to be known, was built showcasing the latest in inventions, many of them featuring electricity. The city featured Edison’s electric lights that most Americans saw for the first time.
The first Ferris wheel ever built was debuted at the fair. 50 cents brought a ride on the 250 foot wheel.
Unknown to authorities at the time, H. H. Holmes used the fairs popularity to lure workers and visitors to his apartments to become America’s first known serial killer.