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- "Pygmyphone" Phonograph and Records, 1925-1932 - Toys that make sounds have always delighted children. During the 1900s, child-oriented music boxes, phonographs, and other mechanical music devices became popular. This prominent German toy company, founded in 1863, had a department that made children's phonographs between 1925 and 1932.
- 1925-1932
- Collections - Artifact
"Pygmyphone" Phonograph and Records, 1925-1932
Toys that make sounds have always delighted children. During the 1900s, child-oriented music boxes, phonographs, and other mechanical music devices became popular. This prominent German toy company, founded in 1863, had a department that made children's phonographs between 1925 and 1932.
- Edison Diamond Disc Record, "Gasoline Gus and His Jitney Bus" / "Aunt Dinah's Golden Wedding," 1915 - Jitneys were illegal taxis or buses that were not licensed to carry paying passengers. This humorous account of a Jitney driver was performed by Billy Murray, a popular recording artist in the early 20th century. About 1920, the Victor Company stated that, through his recordings, Murray's was likely the most familiar voice in the world!
- June 21, 1915
- Collections - Artifact
Edison Diamond Disc Record, "Gasoline Gus and His Jitney Bus" / "Aunt Dinah's Golden Wedding," 1915
Jitneys were illegal taxis or buses that were not licensed to carry paying passengers. This humorous account of a Jitney driver was performed by Billy Murray, a popular recording artist in the early 20th century. About 1920, the Victor Company stated that, through his recordings, Murray's was likely the most familiar voice in the world!
- Edison Amberol Record, "I Want to be a Janitor's Child," 1912 - In this comic song about class distinctions, a wealthy stockbroker's daughter envies the janitor's girl. This wealthy child lives an overly protected lifestyle and "has" to go to Europe once a year. She prefers the freedom and simpler activities of the lower class janitor's child who doesn't "wear fussed up clothes" and enjoys the amusements at Coney Island twice a week.
- 1912
- Collections - Artifact
Edison Amberol Record, "I Want to be a Janitor's Child," 1912
In this comic song about class distinctions, a wealthy stockbroker's daughter envies the janitor's girl. This wealthy child lives an overly protected lifestyle and "has" to go to Europe once a year. She prefers the freedom and simpler activities of the lower class janitor's child who doesn't "wear fussed up clothes" and enjoys the amusements at Coney Island twice a week.
- Edison Talking Doll, 1889-1890 - Thomas Edison's 1878 patent for a "phonographic" doll resulted in the production of about 100 "talking" dolls between 1889 and 1890. This doll "talked" by means of a scaled-down phonograph inside its body, which played nursery rhymes like "Mary Had a Little Lamb." Only made for a short time, the doll's mechanism was unreliable and the recorded voices scared children.
- 1889-1890
- Collections - Artifact
Edison Talking Doll, 1889-1890
Thomas Edison's 1878 patent for a "phonographic" doll resulted in the production of about 100 "talking" dolls between 1889 and 1890. This doll "talked" by means of a scaled-down phonograph inside its body, which played nursery rhymes like "Mary Had a Little Lamb." Only made for a short time, the doll's mechanism was unreliable and the recorded voices scared children.
- Thomas Edison Perfecting His Wax Cylinder Phonograph, 1888 - Throughout his life, Thomas Edison continued to develop the phonograph he had invented in 1877. On June 11, 1888, Edison launched a round-the-clock session with his assistants to perfect the phonograph. When he emerged from his West Orange, New Jersey, laboratory days later, the exhausted, slumping inventor posed for this photograph with his improved machine.
- June 10, 1888
- Collections - Artifact
Thomas Edison Perfecting His Wax Cylinder Phonograph, 1888
Throughout his life, Thomas Edison continued to develop the phonograph he had invented in 1877. On June 11, 1888, Edison launched a round-the-clock session with his assistants to perfect the phonograph. When he emerged from his West Orange, New Jersey, laboratory days later, the exhausted, slumping inventor posed for this photograph with his improved machine.
- "A Charlie Brown Christmas" Sound Recording and Book, 1977 - The television special "A Charlie Brown Christmas" first aired on December 9, 1965. It was one of the most watched shows on TV up until that time and one of the top-rated Christmas specials of all time. This 1977 set, including a read-along storybook and play-along 45 rpm record, was designed to give children a head start in reading.
- 1977
- Collections - Artifact
"A Charlie Brown Christmas" Sound Recording and Book, 1977
The television special "A Charlie Brown Christmas" first aired on December 9, 1965. It was one of the most watched shows on TV up until that time and one of the top-rated Christmas specials of all time. This 1977 set, including a read-along storybook and play-along 45 rpm record, was designed to give children a head start in reading.
- Edison Diamond Disc Record, "Varsovienne" and "Heel and Toe Polka," 1926 - During the 1920s -- the "Jazz Age" -- Henry Ford led a nationwide revival of rural fiddling and old-fashioned dancing. Ford's "Old Time Orchestra" played at dances Ford hosted, while a dance instructor called the steps. After the orchestra performed at the New York Automobile Show in 1926, Edison recorded them at his New Jersey laboratory and included several selections in his record catalog for sale to the public.
- 1926-1929
- Collections - Artifact
Edison Diamond Disc Record, "Varsovienne" and "Heel and Toe Polka," 1926
During the 1920s -- the "Jazz Age" -- Henry Ford led a nationwide revival of rural fiddling and old-fashioned dancing. Ford's "Old Time Orchestra" played at dances Ford hosted, while a dance instructor called the steps. After the orchestra performed at the New York Automobile Show in 1926, Edison recorded them at his New Jersey laboratory and included several selections in his record catalog for sale to the public.
- Edison Gold Moulded Cylinder Record, "He Lost Her in the Subway," 1907 - Ada Jones was the first female popular singer to have a career making records. Her popular song recordings were largely humorous ones wherein she demonstrated her skill at using dialects. In this song, "the train began to swerve, we went around a curve" and 14 men fell into her lap! She found a man she liked more than her brand new husband!
- 1907
- Collections - Artifact
Edison Gold Moulded Cylinder Record, "He Lost Her in the Subway," 1907
Ada Jones was the first female popular singer to have a career making records. Her popular song recordings were largely humorous ones wherein she demonstrated her skill at using dialects. In this song, "the train began to swerve, we went around a curve" and 14 men fell into her lap! She found a man she liked more than her brand new husband!
- Letter from Thomas Edison to Henry Ford, February 13, 1915 -
- February 13, 1915
- Collections - Artifact
Letter from Thomas Edison to Henry Ford, February 13, 1915
- Wax Cylinder Record, "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny," 1896-1901 - In 1878, African-American composer James A. Bland -- born in the North into an educated, middle-class family -- wrote this ballad sentimentalizing the Old South for the minstrel stage. Bland's skill as a composer made this song a popular piece in the late 19th century. With the introduction of affordable phonographs and recordings, favorite songs could be now enjoyed at the drop of a phonograph needle.
- 1896-1901
- Collections - Artifact
Wax Cylinder Record, "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny," 1896-1901
In 1878, African-American composer James A. Bland -- born in the North into an educated, middle-class family -- wrote this ballad sentimentalizing the Old South for the minstrel stage. Bland's skill as a composer made this song a popular piece in the late 19th century. With the introduction of affordable phonographs and recordings, favorite songs could be now enjoyed at the drop of a phonograph needle.