How to Make a Replica of Thomas Edison's Phonograph

Thomas Edison received the copyright for his first phonograph in 1877. However, because of competition for phonograph manufacturing and increasing changes in how phonographs were produced, Edison subsequently made several different versions, including the home phonograph, the standard phonograph and the business phonograph. His first phonograph, nonetheless, paved the way for later inventions, which is why students are often asked to make replicas of it in school. To make a non-working replica you will need a few supplies.

Things You'll Need

• Chicken wire
• Wire cutters
• White glue
• Water
• Bucket
• Newspaper
• Utility knife
• Battleship gray acrylic paint
• Paintbrush
• Cardboard
• Glue
• Wood
• ½-inch dowel rod
• Wooden handle
• Screws
• Screwdriver
• Scissors
• Tape
• Off-white paint

Instructions

Make the Shape

1. Shape the body of the phonograph out of chicken wire. Mold the chicken wire into a short, rectangular bottle shape, with a long mouth on it. The body should be approximately 8 inches across and 6 inches high. However, if you are making a miniature version of the phonograph, adjust the measurements to fit your design. Be sure to leave the mouth open, as this is your mouthpiece for the replica. Use wire cutters to snip off any excess chicken wire on the form.

2. Mix two parts white glue with one part water in a bucket and stir until all the glue is dissolved and you have a paste.

3. Tear strips of newspaper about 1 inch wide.

4. Dip the newspaper strips into the paste and apply the strips to the chicken wire form. Apply three layers of newspaper over the chicken wire and allow the paste to completely dry. This may take a few days.

5. Cut the newspaper form halfway down on the widest part of the bottom with a utility knife. Cut all the way around the base so that the newspaper can slide off of the chicken wire. Pull the chicken wire out of the top section of the form.

Attach Main Section

1. Paint the inside and outside of the newspaper phonograph form with battleship gray acrylic paint and a paintbrush.

2. Set the two sections of the phonograph about 1 inch apart and connect them together at the top and bottom with a 1-inch strip of cardboard and glue. Lay the cardboard on the center edges of both top and bottom pieces. Allow the glue to dry.

3. Paint the strips of cardboard battleship gray as well and allow the paint to dry.

4. Center the main part of the phonograph replica on a piece of wood. The piece of wood should be large enough for the body of the phonograph to sit on, with space enough for other components as well. A 12-by-12-inch board should be sufficient. Glue down the main part of the phonograph on the wood and allow the glue to dry.

5. Paint the wood base of the phonograph replica with the battleship gray and allow the paint to dry.

Crank

1. Cut a 1-inch hole in the neck of the main part of the phonograph at the bottom of the neck, just before the body widens out. Cut holes on both sides of the neck with a utility knife.

2. Paint a ½ inch dowel rod battleship gray and allow the paint to dry.

3. Attach a long knob wood handle to the end of the dowel rod using screws and a screwdriver.

4. Draw two brackets for the handle on cardboard. The brackets must have two legs and a cradle on the top where the dowel rod will be seated. The brackets must also be no taller than the holes that you have cut in the main portion of the body of the phonograph, or about three inches tall. Cut the bracket design out of the cardboard and paint the bracket pieces battleship gray and allow the paint to dry.

5. Attach the cardboard brackets to the wood base of the phonograph with glue on either side of the main body of the phonograph and allow the glue to dry.

Complete

1. Insert the handle-free portion of the dowel rod through one of the holes on the main body of the phonograph until the end of the dowel rod without the handle rests on the bracket cradle on the other side. Lay the end of the dowel rod with the handle down into the bracket in front of you.

2. Cut out an 8-by-2-inch piece of cardboard using scissors. Fold the cardboard every 2 inches so that you have a square shape and the two ends of the cardboard meet. Tape the ends of the cardboard square together.

3. Paint the cardboard square battleship gray and glue it on the base of the phonograph replica centered underneath the mouth of the phonograph.

4. Cut a 2-inch circle out of cardboard and paint it off-white.

5. Glue the 2-inch circle to the front of the cardboard square. This is the speaker.

Tips & Warnings

• While you may use flour instead of glue in your paste mixture, flour and water will attract insects.

• Use a mixture of one part black acrylic paint and one part water and a paintbrush to add shadows to the curves on your model to age it.

• Instead of painting the wood base, try staining it with a dark wood stain to make it look more antique.

• Add a gold label with the title of your project on the base in black calligraphy.

References

• Edison Film and Sound: History of Edison Cylinder Phonograph
• DLTK: How to Make Paper Mache

Resources

• Bizarre Stuff: Edison's Phonograph
• Modern Mechanix: How to Make a Phonograph