Phonograph: The Sound Machine

The phonograph plays recorded sound using grooves on cylinders or discs.

Edison invented the phonograph in 1877.

Thomas Edison invented the phonograph in 1877.

Alexander Graham Bell improved it using wax-coated cylinders in 1880s.

Emile Berliner made flat disc records and called his machine gramophone.

Phonographs became the main home audio device in the 20th century.

The word phonograph comes from Greek and means sound writing.

In Britain, the gramophone name refers to disc record machines.

The phonautograph, invented in 1857, recorded sound as tracings only.

Scott’s phonautograph could not play back the recorded sounds.

Charles Cros proposed acid-etch grooves to reproduce sound recordings.

Records have revived since the late 2000s despite earlier declines.