The American inventor Thomas Edison, who was credited to many other inventions as well, invented the first practical phonograph, or record player, in 1877. He recorded sound onto a cylinder, which was then rotated against a needle. The needle, moving up and down in the grooves of the cylinder, made vibrations that were amplified by a horn.

Edison had first intended for the phonograph to be used in offices, but further development of the phonograph led to its more famous usage in the music industry. In 1887, inventor Emile Berliner created a flat-disk phonograph, which was widely used to play music recorded by the great singers and musicians of the time. Unlike Edison’s invention, however, the needle moved from side to side, but still used the same premise.

Phonographs were popular throughout most of American history, until the development of compact discs, which are the main form of music media today.

*Picture from Encarta Encyclopedia

"Phonograph". Microsoft Encarta Electronic Encyclopedia Edition 2002.

• This article included helpful information about both Edison and his invention, the phonograph.