Wednesday 24 July 2019

Phonograph? Graphophone? Sounds like Noah’s names for Audio Systems

CAPE ARGUS - 1915, 2 January
THE STAR Johannesburg- 1918, 22 February
THE CAPE TIMES - 1933, 17 July

In 1877 Thomas A. Edison invented the PHONOGRAPH to record and reproduce sound mechanically. This device was the forerunner of the Gramophone or Record Player.
Other inventors had devices that could record sounds, but Edison’s phonograph succeeded in reproducing the recorded sound for the first time in history. Sound was recorded onto a sheet of tinfoil wrapped around a rotating cylinder. He invented a stylus that could respond to sound vibrations to produce an up and down groove in the foil. 
In 1915, Edison advertised his Phonograph in the Cape Argus, to reproduce the best music, clearly rendered by the new Diamond Point Reproducer. These phonographs - both cylinder and disc models - were of the concealed horn variety. 
(CAPE ARGUS - 1915, 2 January)



In the 1880’s Alexander Graham Bell made improvements before he introduced his GRAPHOPHONE. In 1918, Columbia Graphophones were advertised in THE STAR Johannesburg (1918, 22 February). Special needles would ensure the prolonged life of records.



In 1933, a Table Radio-GRAMOPHONE was advertised in THE CAPE TIMES, (1933, 17 July). This Two-speed device had all the latest improvements like 5 Valves, Tone Control and new-type Radiotrons to ensure Power, Purity of Tone, Value and Compactibility. 

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