A box of wax cylinders
Another issue Edison tackled was how to mass
produce the cylinders. At the time, performers
making a record were required to repeat their
performance multiple times in order to make copies.
In 1901, Edison found the solution. By using a
harder wax and molding the cylinders instead of
engraving them with a stylus, he was able to
create 120-150 copies of a single recording in one day.
Unforunately,
by
that time, the round
phonograph (or gramophone) had made made its
appearance - essentially doubling the recording time
available. Edison nevertheless was determined to keep
the cylinder alive. Because of the alluring appeal of
the new phonograph records, the wax cylinder was
obsolete by the Jazz Age.
Although record players and vinyl were
eventually replaced
by the 8-track tape
player,
cassette
recorder,
and
then
the
compact disc player (now further eclipsed by iTunes
and mp3 players), vinyl is staging a comeback among
audiophiles.
Edison’s wax cylinders may be gone, but they are not
fogotten! This November, Vermont will celebrate the
original technology and innovation with wax cylinder
day.
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