Cylinder Phonograph Record, "A Hot Time in the Old Town," circa 1897

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Artifact Overview

The first sound recordings made for home use were wax cylinders, like this recording of the 1896 popular song "A Hot Time in the Old Town." Disc records, more convenient to store and handle than cylinders, would ultimately prove more successful with customers.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Cylinder (Sound recording)

Date Made

circa 1897

Place of Creation

Creator Notes

Performance by Len Spencer and cylinder manufactured by Columbia Phonograph Company, Inc.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

94.0.28.112

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Wax

Dimensions

Length: 4.25 in
Diameter: 2.25 in

Inscriptions

on container: TALKING MACHINE RECORD SELECTION PATENTED MAY 4TH 1886 COLUMBIA PHONOGRAPH CO. MAKERS OF THE FAMOUS COLUMBIA RECORDS...WRITE FOR THE LATEST...IF IT IS A COLUMBIA RECORD...