The Symbolism of the Portable Phonograph

The phonograph made music portable.

The portable phonograph significantly changed the way people listened to sound. By playing recorded sound, the phonograph allowed people to listen to the music of their choice when and where they wanted.

History

Thomas Edison developed the first phonograph in 1877 while experimenting with ways to telegraph messages. Sounds were first recorded onto cylinders. When a handle was cranked, a stylus ran along indentations in the cylinder to produce the sounds, which were amplified by the phonograph's horn.

Record Disc Development

In the early 1890s, Emile Berliner developed records, which competed with cylinders in the market for recordings. The first discs were 5 inches and only had recordings on one side. Because discs were cheaper, they were a more popular choice. By the early 1900s, phonographs that played discs began to dominate the market.

Significance

Before the invention of the phonograph, people listened to music only at live events. The phonograph changed that. Having a phonograph and a selection of discs meant you could listen to recordings when you wanted. The phonograph made it possible for recordings to become a part of everyday life, and the phonograph's portability allowed you to listen wherever you wanted.

References

• Rutgers University: The Thomas Edison Papers
• Duke University: The History of Recorded Music

Resources

• Wesleyan University: A History of Portable Music