In 1877, Thomas Edison invented the phonograph, which could record sounds by etching grooves on foil-coated cylinders. Ten years later, Emile Berliner improved on it with the gramophone, using flat discs instead. Early discs were made of brittle shellac and played at 78 RPM, so each side lasted only a few minutes. In 1948, vinyl records arrived. Bigger and spinning slower at 33 RPM, they could hold more songs. People loved their warm, rich sound – and even today, many prefer listening to vinyl records!
In 1877, Thomas Edison invented the phonograph, which could record sounds by etching grooves on foil-coated cylinders. Ten years later, Emile Berliner improved on it with the gramophone, using flat discs instead. Early discs were made of brittle shellac and played at 78 RPM, so each side lasted only a few minutes. In 1948, vinyl records arrived. Bigger and spinning slower at 33 RPM, they could hold more songs. People loved their warm, rich sound – and even today, many prefer listening to vinyl records!