Entire Collection
Edison Phonograph Disc
Specifications
Edison Phonograph Disc
Category
Communication
Classification
CHENHALL - Tools & Equipment for Communication - Sound Communication T&E - Sound Communication Media - Record, Phonograph
Keyword
Object Origin
Thomas A. Edison, Inc.
1911 -1921
Physical Characteristics
Object Description: Flat circular black disc with a small hole in the center. Text is engraved on the center on both sides with a portrait of Edison in a shield shape next to a patent statement in a similar shield shape. The same numbers are stamped equally spaced into the rim four (4) times.
Marks: Front: "Poor Butterfly / —New York Hippodrome / —"The Big Show" / (Raymond Hubbell) / Soprano with orchestra / ELIZABETH SPENCER / EDISON / TRADE MARK / Thomas A Edison / B1 / 4987-C-2-72" Back: "Flora Bella / (March Song) / (M. E. Schwarzwald) / Soprano and chorus with orchestra / GLAYDS RICE / EDISON / TRADE MARK / Thomas A Edison / 5026-C-3-60" Patent statement: "This / patented Record is sold / by Thomas A. Edison, Inc. / Orange, N. J., subject / to restrictions printed / on container in / which it is put / out by this / Company" Rim: "50386"
Measurements: Object:
Depth: 0.25 in, Diameter: 9.5 in
Weight: 0.569 lbs
Credit
Gift of Vince Granatelli, 2018.1.111
Display Status
Not On View
Edison Phonograph Disc
About: Edison Phonograph Disc
About: Edison Phonograph Disc
This phonograph record is a Diamond Disc featuring a variety of popular songs. The front side of the disc features the songs "Poor Butterfly" from the Broadway show The Big Show. The song was recorded by the soprano singer Elizabeth Spencer (1871 – 1930). During the twentieth century, Spencer signed an exclusive contract to record for Thomas A. Edison Inc. Between 1910 and 1916, Spencer recorded over 660 songs, more than any other vocalist from the company. The back side of this record features the march song "Flora Bella" from the play Flora Bella (1916). The song was recorded by the soprano singer Glayds Hillsburg (1890 – 1983) who made recordings during the early twentieth century under various aliases which included Gladys Rice, Rachel Grant, and Bettina Bergere.
Between 1912 and 1929, Diamond Disc were manufactured by Thomas A. Edison, Inc. to be used with the Edison Disc Phonograph, or record player. Diamond Discs have a thickness of ¼ inch, a diameter of 10 inches, and weigh close to 1 pound. The name Diamond Disc originated from its association with the Edison Disc Phonograph, which featured a permanent conical stylus made of diamond. The stylus, or needle, is responsible for making contact with the disc and transmitting the vibrations produced by the record’s grooves. The diamond stylus made the phonograph unique, while other phonographs used steel styluses which required regular replacement, the Edison Disc Phonograph used a durable and long-lasting diamond stylus. However, this unique feature made Diamond Discs incompatible with phonographs that used steel styluses because a steel stylus had the potential to damage the Diamond Discs while providing low sound quality. Diamond Discs experienced commercial success during the mid-1910s and into the early 1920s.
Additional information
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