| Description |
SHIPPING AVAILABLE > A box lot group of around 40 antique cylinder roll records, primarily featuring Edison and Columbia issues, with the possibility of other labels included. The collection contains both "Edison Gold Moulded" and "Edison Amberol" cylinders, as well as a Columbia Phonograph cylinder with a patriotic label design. Some of the cylinders retain their original cardboard packaging, while others are stored without covers, revealing the aged and worn labels. The variety of records suggests a mix of musical selections, from early popular recordings to spoken word pieces, capturing a slice of early 20th-century audio history.
CONDITION REPORT > Not all sleeves contain records ~ None tested for functionality ~ Offered as discovered, stored away for a number of years by the prior owner ~ None individually examined ~ Expect varying elements relative to age, prior use and materials.
History of the CYLINDER ROLL Type RECORD
Cylinder roll records were the earliest commercial medium for recording and reproducing sound, predating flat disc records by a couple of decades. Their development marked a revolutionary leap in the way sound could be captured and played back, forever changing entertainment, communication, and documentation.
It all began in 1877 when Thomas Edison invented the phonograph. The first phonographs used tinfoil as the recording medium, wrapped around a cylinder that could be rotated to capture sound via grooves. While Edison initially saw his invention as more of a business tool, for dictation or preserving voices, the potential for entertainment quickly became apparent.
By the 1880s, wax cylinders had replaced tinfoil, offering clearer sound and the ability to be played many more times without degradation. These wax cylinders were typically about 4 inches long and 2.25 inches in diameter, and they recorded two to four minutes of sound. Edison’s Gold Moulded cylinders were among the first mass-produced sound recordings, allowing for music, speeches, and comedy routines to be enjoyed in homes for the first time.
Columbia Phonograph Company, another major player in the early recording industry, started producing its own cylinders, which helped to widen the market. The rivalry between Edison and Columbia spurred innovation, with both companies creating more durable and higher-quality recordings. Edison later introduced the Amberol cylinders, which were longer-playing due to their finer grooves, allowing for four minutes of audio compared to the two-minute limit of earlier cylinders.
Cylinders were sold in cardboard tubes with protective cases, and labels or instructions were often attached to the top of the case for identification. The recordings themselves ranged from classical music and popular songs to vaudeville performances, political speeches, and even the voices of famous figures.
The physical format of cylinders allowed them to be played on a phonograph that featured a rotating mechanism with a stylus riding in the grooves of the cylinder. Early machines were hand-cranked, but as technology progressed, electric phonographs emerged, making playback easier and more consistent.
However, by the early 20th century, flat disc records, which had been developed by Emile Berliner in the late 1880s, began to overtake cylinders in popularity. Discs were cheaper to manufacture, easier to store, and had the capacity for longer recordings. Companies like Victor Talking Machine and Gramophone became leaders in the disc market, and eventually, the cylinder fell out of favor.
Despite this, cylinder records were a critical part of the dawn of recorded sound. They were essential in the early dissemination of music and spoken word, providing the foundation for the audio recording industry. Today, collectors and historians treasure these early recordings, not just for their historical significance, but also for the unique sound quality that cylinders can still provide when carefully restored and played on original phonographs. The voices and music captured on these rolls serve as a time capsule, preserving a vivid glimpse of the past.
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