who invented the victrola

What is the history of the Victrola?

History of Victrola. Victrola, one of the leading turntable manufacturers, was born in 1906 in Camden, NJ when first introduced to the American public by the Victor Talking Machine Company.

Do they still make Victrola Records?

His company, the Victor Talking Machine Company, still produces the Victrola record player. Of course, around this time in history, the radio was also becoming a popular staple of American life. For the first time in history, sound was not only being recorded but also being broadcast around the nation.

What is the history of the Victor Talking Machine?

History of the Victor Phonograph. The foundation of the Victor Talking Machine Company goes back to the late 1880's, when a creative entrepreneur named Emile Berliner invented the mass-producible flat phonograph record. Edison had invented the cylinder phonograph in 1877, but there was no practical way to mass-duplicate cylinders at that time.

What is a Victrola phonograph?

The term Victrola thus applies ONLY to internal horn phonographs made by the Victor Talking Machine Company, and is not a generic term for all old phonographs. The first internal horn phonograph, initially designated as The Victor-Victrola, was marketed in 1906.

Who invented the first Victrola?

The Victor-Victrola Page. The foundations for the Victor Talking Machine Company date back to the late 1880's, when a creative entrepreneur named Emile Berliner invented the mass-production flat phonograph record.

When was the Victrola invented?

Founded in 1901 as the Victor Talking Machine Company, Victrola was essentially the Apple of its day. Phonographs existed before 1901, but Victrola made them cool—not just by improving the sound quality but by modernizing the look.

Who created the first record player?

Thomas EdisonEmile BerlinerCharles CrosEldridge R. JohnsonJoseph SandersPhonograph/Inventors

Who owns the Victrola brand?

Innovative TechnologyA Long Island consumer electronics company is rebranding its nostalgia turntable line after acquiring the historic Victrola trademark for a six-figure sum, the company's owner says.

How much is Victrola worth?

Most Victrola (internal horn) models are still quite commonly found at estate sales and on EBay, with the average selling price in the $50 to $200 range for typical "attic-stored" machines.

What does Victrola mean?

Noun. victrola (plural victrolas) Any upright or console model phonograph from the early 1900s, usually with a wooden cabinet body and an interior horn for the projection of sound, that plays 78 rpm records using a steel needle.

Did Thomas Edison invent the record player?

The technology that made the modern music business possible came into existence in the New Jersey laboratory where Thomas Edison created the first device to both record sound and play it back. He was awarded U.S. Patent No. 200,521 for his invention—the phonograph—on February 19, 1878.

What is the oldest vinyl record?

At 21 minutes per side, the Peter Goldmark Long Play (LP) record would change the face of the music industry, ushering in the era of albums. The first album in human history, however, was recorded in 1889 by Emile Berliner who many refer to as the "father of the gramophone".

Who invented music records?

The story of sound recording, and reproduction, began in 1877, when the man of a thousand patents, Thomas Edison, invented the phonograph. In essence, his machine consisted of a sheet of tinfoil wrapped around a cylindrical drum which, when turned by a handle, both rotated and moved laterally.

How old is the Victrola company?

Victrola, one of the leading turntable manufacturers, was born in 1906 in Camden, NJ when first introduced to the American public by the Victor Talking Machine Company.

When did Victrola go out of business?

The Victor Talking Machine Company was an American recording company and phonograph manufacturer that operated independently from 1901 until 1929, when it was acquired by the Radio Corporation of America and subsequently operated as a subsidiary called RCA Victor.

Where are Victrola made?

Victrola, a maker of record players since the early 1900s, is still around and has moved its HQ to Denver.

What is Victor turntable?

Full of entrepreneurial ideas and known for its use of quality materials, Victor (later becoming RCA) was the largest and most successful turntable manufacturer of its time. Victrola, much like music, has transcended time and endured the evolution of technology.

What is the mission of vinyl revival?

As an integral part of this vinyl revival era, it’s our mission to not only resurrect the antique audio styles of decades past, but to bring the warm, classic sound of vinyl to homes everywhere.

Where was Victrola made?

Victrola was born in 1906 in Camden, NJ when first introduced to the American public by the Victor Talking Machine Company. Full of entrepreneurial ideas and known for its use of quality materials, Victor (later becoming RCA) was the largest and most successful turntable manufacturer of its time.

What is Victrola audio?

Victrola, much like music, has transcended time and endured the evolution of technology. Our audio products offer the vintage look and feel that’s reminiscent of bygone memories - combined with unparalleled sound quality and exquisite craftsmanship that will provide you with the ultimate listening experience for years to come.

Who owns Victrola turntables?

More than 110 years later, the legendary Victrola trademark has been revived in the US and is now owned by Innovative Technology – The Victrola Brand will once again symbolize the same high-quality, nostalgic turntables of the past for this century’s music listeners of all ages.

What is the mission of vinyl revival?

As an integral part of this vinyl revival era, it’s our mission to not only resurrect the antique audio styles of decades past, but to bring the warm, classic sound of vinyl to homes everywhere.

How did vinyl change the world?

Around the same time, though, the vinyl record was completely changing the world of music in disco s, clubs, and even homes around the world. Mass production of turntables and new entrants into the market had caused worldwide popularity and a cultural revolution.

What was the name of the machine that recorded the sounds of a voice?

His phonograph , which he sometimes referred to as a "speaking machine," used a steel needle that would carve the sound vibrations from a spoken voice into a sheet of tin foil. That foil wrapped around a cylinder and was hand-cranked to “record” the sounds.

What was the name of the tool used to record sound waves?

Disc, Not Cylinder – Instead of recording on a cylinder which rotated vertically, Berliner used small discs, no more than 20-30 cm wide, to record the sound waves by using a needle (the same tool Edison used to engrave his cylinders). By using a disc, both the length of recordings as well as the quality was significantly improved.

When did the master copy technique start?

In 1895 , Berliner found a way to create "master copies" of recordings utilizing this technique, which could be used to reproduce discs with inward grooves. With these methods, artists could reproduce recordings of a single track many times, seriously impacting the commercial value of the method for the better.

Who invented the record player?

Berliner no doubt laid the foundation for the modern record player, and his innovations are the reason why record players are so popular even now.

Who was the first person to record and reproduce his voice?

Humans have kept records of their experiences for hundreds of thousands of years, first with images and later with sound. In 1877, Thomas Edison became the first person to record and reproduce his voice. Edison’s invention, which he named the phonograph, utilized the same principles as a modern record player.

Who improved the stylus?

Alexander Graham Bell and The Volta Associates. Alexander Graham Bell improved upon the design pioneered by Edison by recording into wax on top of the tin foil. He and his associates at the time, known as the Volta Associates, also used different types of styluses, instead of the early steel versions that Edison had used.

What was the Victrola machine?

Unlike previous tabletop phonographs, the Victrola was a large floor-standing machine. Victor did not have the production facilities to make a large floor cabinet at that time, so the Pooley Furniture Company of Philadelphia was contracted to produce a limited quantity of custom-designed cabinets for these machines.

When was the Victrola sale?

In order to move this massive inventory of warehoused machines, a highly publicized sale was held during the summer of 1925 , wherein every unsold Victrola would be offered at half the list price. Both dealers and the company "ate" the financial losses just to get the stale products out of their warehouses.

What is the problem with the Victrola?

The original Victrola design has several deficiencies though; the most problematic one being the need for the user to awkwardly "reach way down" into the deep cabinet opening on top in order to change a record or lift the tonearm (picture at right ). In less than a year, this was soon resolved through the use of a domed lid, which allowed the turntable and tone arm to sit nearly flush on top of the cabinet. Only several thousand of these early flat-lid "Pooley" Victrolas were produced, making them highly sought-after by collectors today.

What is the name of the phonograph company that Eldridge Johnson invented?

Eldridge Johnson's earliest phonograph business was operated as the "Consolidated Talking Machine Co. and this name appeared on tags attached to his machines.

What tabletop model replaced the XII?

In 1910, two new tabletop models replaced the XII; the Victrola X ($75.00) and Victrola XI ($100.00). These tabletop models had much better performance than the XII, and began to sell quite well, even though the price was still prohibitive for many Americans.

Why did Victrola burn on the public square?

The near-worthless inventory of Victrola trade-ins would be burned on the public square as an advertising campaign. Obviously, this created bad press for the company. Victor stock had become virtually worthless by the spring of 1925.

When did Victor introduce the phonograph?

In a panic development campaign in conjunction with Western Electric engineers, Victor introduced the "Orthophonic" line of phonographs in the fall of 1925, which utilized the latest sound reproducing technology and offered vastly superior reproduction. Scientific improvements were made in the design of the horns and the soundboxes, in-part based on signal transmission theory developed during World War I. It was a dramatic improvement. Old-style Victrolas sounded anemic compared to these new machines. This was achieved without the use of electronics, though the application of sophisticated acoustic matched-impedance designs. The tinny Victrola sound was now replaced with a rich tone that was superior to all but the best radios. In addition, phonograph records were for the first time being recorded electrically, which also improved the sound quality. Selling for as little as $50.00 (and for more than $300.00), these new machines were an immediate success, and quickly brought profitability (and prestige) back to Victor. The " Credenza" was the flagship of this new line, and its audio performance is dramatic, even by today's standards ( picture at left).

When was the Victrola invented?

The Victor Orthophonic Victrola, first demonstrated publicly in 1925 , was the first consumer phonograph designed specifically to play electrically recorded phonograph records. The combination was recognized instantly as a major step forward in sound reproduction.

How much does a Victrola cost?

List prices ranged from $95 (≈$1400 in 2020 dollars) to $300 depending on cabinetry. $375 "Victrolas with Radiola" incorporated a "five-tube Radiola tuned radio frequency receiver with orthophonic reproduction." A $650 "Victrola-Electrola" incorporated a "two-way valve" allowing both "Orthophonic as well as electrical reproduction," while the $1000 (≈$14,820 in 2020 dollars) "Orthophonic Victrola—Radiola and Electrola" had it all, including an eight-tube Radiola Super-Heterodyne [sic].

Who invented electrical recording?

Electrical recording was developed by Western Electric, although a primitive electrical process was developed by Orlando R. Marsh, owner and founder of Autograph Records. Western Electric demonstrated their process to the two leading recording companies, Victor and Columbia who were initially unwilling to adopt it because they realized it would make their entire existing record catalogs obsolete. However, parched revenues in the record industry caused by the mushrooming new medium of radio soon forced both Victor and Columbia to begin experimental electrical recording.

Who invented the orthophonic horn?

It was developed by two Western Electric researchers, Joseph Maxfield and H. Harrison. Early electrical recordings sounded harsh when played on the acoustic phonographs of the day, which had been designed by trial and error, had highly "colored" frequency response, and emphasized higher frequencies. The researchers invented the exponential horn, and, on realizing that it needed to be nine feet long to reproduce the lowest frequencies on the new discs, designed a method for "folding" the horn into a cabinet of practical size. The design was released by Victor as the "Orthophonic" Victrola in the autumn of 1925.

Where is Victor Talking Machine made?

The Victor Talking Machine Company was an American recording company and phonograph manufacturer headquartered in Camden, New Jersey. It was the largest and most prestigious firm of its kind in the world, perhaps best known for its use of the famous " His Master's Voice " trademark and the production, marketing and design of the "Victrola" line of phonographs. Victor was purchased by the Radio Corporation of America in 1929, which continued with the manufacture of phonographs, records, radios and other products. Victor is the corporate ancestor to RCA Records .

When was Victor's first recording?

Victor's first electrical recording to be issued was Victor 19626, a ten-inch disc consisting of two numbers recorded on March 16, 1925 from the University of Pennsylvania 's thirty-seventh annual production of the Mask and Wig Club, issued in April, 1925.

What was the era of acoustic recording?

Acoustical recording era. Enrico Caruso with a customized Victrola given to him as a wedding gift by the Victor Company in 1918. Before 1925, recording was done by the same purely mechanical, non-electronic "acoustical" method used since the invention of the phonograph nearly fifty years earlier.

How did the name Victor come about?

A third story is that Johnson's partner, Leon Douglass, derived the word from his wife's name 'Victoria.' Finally, a fourth story is that Johnson took the name from the popular 'Victor' bicycle, which he had admired for its superior engineering. Of these four accounts the first two are the most generally accepted." Perhaps coincidentally, the first use of the Victor title on a letterhead, on March 28, 1901, was only nine weeks after the death of British Queen Victoria .

What size records did Victor make?

In the company's early years, Victor issued recordings on the Victor, Monarch and De Luxe labels, with the Victor label on 7-inch records, Monarch on 10-inch records and De Luxe on 12-inch records. De Luxe Special 14-inch records were briefly marketed in 1903–1904. In 1905, all labels and sizes were consolidated into the Victor imprint.

How long did Victor keep records?

Victor kept meticulous written records of all of its recordings. The files cover the period 1903 to 1958 (thus including the RCA Victor era, as well as the Victor Talking Machine Co. era). These written records are among the most extensive and important sources of available primary discographic information in the world. There were three main categories of files: a daily log of recordings for each day, a file maintained for each important Victor artist, and a 4"×6" index card file kept in catalog number order.

What record label did Victor use?

In the company's early years, Victor issued recordings on the Victor, Monarch and De Luxe labels, with the Victor label on 7-inch records, Monarch on 10-inch records and De Luxe on 12-inch records. De Luxe Special 14-inch records were briefly marketed in 1903–1904.

What instruments are used in the Victrola?

Solos for the violin, cello, cornet, flute. banjo, xylophone, mandolin, guitar, by the most eminent artists living, are among the selections afforded by the Victrola. The Victrola furnishes ideal dance music, and an immense catalog of specially arranged, up to date selections are now available.

Who sings for the Victor?

To hear the Victor at its best, one should hear the records by the greatest opera singers, who make records only for the Victor. Caruso, Melba, Farrar, Homer, Gluck, Scott, and all the others of great note sing exclusively for the Victor Company.

What is the greatest instrument in the world?

The Victrola is the world’s greatest musical instrument — Do not confuse it with the cheap imitations that are now flooding the market.

How fast is a 7 inch turntable?

The standard velocity of the center turn-table for 7-inch plates is about 70 revolutions a minute. A more rapid motion will raise the pitch of and sharpen the sound; a slower motion will deepen the same. First get the speed and then place the reproducer and needle into the outer groove or the next one. 3.

How was sound transferred from a vibrating needle to a zinc disc?

Sound was transferred from the vibrating needle onto a zinc disc covered with a thin coating of wax, describing a spiral groove, as in modern records. The entire disc was dipped in acid, and the areas where the needle had scraped away the wax formed grooves in the zinc, creating a playable record.

How to use a hand wheel on a turntable?

1. Place the machine before you, as shown in the picture, resting the arm fully upon the table, and turn the hand-wheel with a w rist movement at the rate of about 150 times a minute. To acquire this regularity of motion, practice it a number of times with the lever and sound-box lifted off from the turn-table.

When did Victor and Columbia record?

By 1925 , Victor and Columbia were issuing “electrically recorded” discs. Here the vibrations in the air were converted to electrical impulses by a microphone, amplified, then reproduced on a disc by a cutting head that responded with lateral motions proportional to the electrical signal.