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phonograph
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phonograph turntable Thomas Edison's phonograph of 1877 gramophone
The role of chemistry in Thomas Edison's inventions
45-RPM record player stereophonic high-fidelity record player Thomas Edison stylus model of Thomas Edison's phonograph In Thomas Alva Edison's original Phonograph of 1877 (right), words spoken loudly into the recording sound box were converted by a vibrating diaphragm and a needlelike recording stylus into a series of tiny pits impressed in the tinfoil covering of a cardboard cylinder. The cylinder was turned by a hand crank (upper left) for both recording and playing. During playback, a lighter stylus traced over the series of pits (as shown in the movie, lower left), vibrating a reproducer diaphragm and re-creating the original spoken words.
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phonograph: Facts & Related Content

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Facts

Also Known As record player

Photos and Videos

phonograph turntable
Thomas Edison's phonograph of 1877
gramophone
45-RPM record player
stereophonic high-fidelity record player
Thomas Edison
stylus
model of Thomas Edison's phonograph
In Thomas Alva Edison's original Phonograph of 1877 (right), words spoken loudly into the recording sound box were converted by a vibrating diaphragm and a needlelike recording stylus into a series of tiny pits impressed in the tinfoil covering of a cardboard cylinder. The cylinder was turned by a hand crank (upper left) for both recording and playing. During playback, a lighter stylus traced over the series of pits (as shown in the movie, lower left), vibrating a reproducer diaphragm and re-creating the original spoken words.
The role of chemistry in Thomas Edison's inventions
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Related Topics and References

Topics
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Key People

Watch a silent short of Thomas Edison, who invented the phonograph and incandescent electric light
Thomas Edison
American inventor
Alexander Graham Bell
Alexander Graham Bell
American inventor
Charles Cros
French inventor and poet
Charles Sumner Tainter
American inventor

Related Quizzes and Features

Quiz
Alberto Santos-Dumont. Postcard of Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont's (1873-1932) airship or dirigible and Eiffel Tower. The Santos Dumont Air-Ship rounding the Eiffel Tower; on Octoboer 19th 1901. airplane
A History of Everyday Technology in 68 Quiz Questions
List
The Apple II
10 Inventions That Changed Your World