Edison Diamond Disc Record, "Charmant Oiseau (from La Perle de Brasil)" and a Message for Thomas Edison, 1915

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Artifact Overview

This rare recording was the brainchild of Thomas Edison's Chief Engineer Miller R. Hutchison. A group of Edison's friends and business associates gathered at Edison's West Orange, New Jersey, laboratory as this pre-recorded speech was played during a telephone call made to Edison over the newly completed transcontinental telephone line. Edison was visiting the 1915 Pan-American Exhibition in San Francisco on the opposite coast. This recording was never sold commercially.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Phonograph record

Date Made

1915

Subject Date

21 October 1915

Creators

Place of Creation

Creator Notes

Manufactured by Thomas A. Edison, Inc., West Orange, New Jersey; Charmant Oiseau performed by Anna Case. The other side of the disc features the spoken word of Edison's chief engineer, Miller Hutchinson, which was recorded and played for Thomas Edison via AT&T's newly completed transatlantic telephone line while Edison was visiting the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco .

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

78.109.27

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Condensite (Plastic)
Paper (Fiber product)

Color

Black (Color)

Dimensions

Diameter: 10 in

Inscriptions

front: Charmant oiseau / La Perle du Bresil (David) / soprano solo in French / Flute obligato [original pressing with the title impressed directly into the record surface with Edison trademark image and patent shields] recording trailer, applied with scribing tool: 37196 – B - 4- 68 back: SPECIAL / LIMITED EDITION / TRANSCONTINENTAL ‘PHONE/CELEBRATION OF EDISON DAY' / PANAMA-PACIFIC INT EXPOSITION / EDISON LABORATORY / 8:15 - 9PM OCT 21, 1915 / DIAMOND DISC ADDRESS TO / THOMAS ALVA EDISON / BY MILLER REESE HUTCHINSON / ONE RECORD PRESENTED TO EACH / GUEST AND OFFICIAL OF / AMERICAN TELEPHONE + TEL CO / COMPLIMENTS OF MR EDISON'S / ASSISTANTS recording trailer, applied with scribing tool: 4199 – B -10
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