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Edison Phonograph Disc

Specifications

Edison Phonograph Disc

Category

Communication

Classification

CHENHALL - Tools & Equipment for Communication - Sound Communication T&E - Sound Communication Media - Record, Phonograph

Object Origin
Manufacturer:

Thomas A. Edison, Inc.

Date Manufactured:

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: "Send Me Away With / A Smile / (Louis Weslyn-Al. Piantadosi) / Baritone with orchestra / ARTHUR FIELDS / EDISON / TRADE MARK / Thomas A Edison / 5712-C-7-17" Back: "Joan Of Arc / They Are Calling You / (Jack Wells) / Tenor with orchestra / VERNON DALHART / EDISON / TRADE MARK / Thomas A Edison / 5689-C-8-18" 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: "50444"

Measurements: Object:
    Depth: 0.25 in, Diameter: 9.5 in
    Weight: 0.439 lbs

Credit

Gift of Vince Granatelli, 2018.1.118

Display Status

Not On View

Edison Phonograph Disc

About: Edison Phonograph Disc

About: Edison Phonograph Disc

This Diamond Disc features two songs with references to World War I (1914 – 1918). The first song on the disc is titled "Send Me Away with A Smile", which was written by Louis Weslyn (1885 – 1937) and composed by Al Piantadosi (1882 – 1955). The song alludes to a soldier going off to war and telling his girlfriend to send him off with a smile, and to brush away the tears from her brown eyes. On the back side of the disc is the song "Send Me Away with A Smile" and "Joan of Arc, they are Calling You" with lyrics alluding to French soldiers calling out to the Maid of France, Joan of Arc, who is known as the patron saint of France and soldiers. The chorus of the song reads "Joan of Arc, Joan of Arc/ Do your eyes, from the skies, see the foe?/ Don’t you see the drooping Fleur-de-lis?/ Can’t you hear the tears of Normandy?/ Joan of Arc, Joan of Arc/ Let your spirit guide us through/ Come lead your France to victory/ Joan of Arc, they are calling you. Joan of Arc". The song was composed in 1917 by Jack Wells (1880 – 1935), with lyrics by Al Bryan (1871 – 1958) and Willie Weston.


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

Copyright information

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