The Very First Phonograph: "On This Day in Phonographic History..."

[phonogfp]

"On This Day in Phonographic History..."

 

December 6, 1877:  John Kruesi completed the construction of the very first Phonograph.  Thomas Edison adjusted a piece of tin foil to it, and spoke “Mary had a Little Lamb” into the recording phonet while turning the crank.  To everyone’s amazement – including Edison’s (“I was never so taken aback in my life”), it spoke back the rhyme.

 

February 19: 1878, Thomas A. Edison was granted the first U.S. patent for “Improvement in Phonograph or Speaking Machines.” No.200,521.

 

 

 

#antiquephonographsociety #phonograph #gramophone #antique

[Tinfoilphono]

Here's a more recent photo of the original prototype made by John Kruesi, displayed at the Thomas A. Edison National Historic Park in Orange, NJ. A couple of years ago the long-missing mouthpiece for the recorder was reproduced and installed onto the original phonograph.