There is probably no more appropriate name for this technical revolution. When I imagine what life was like before it. For us today, dealing with sound and recording it is something we were born with. But the development is incredible. Starting with the vinyl record, to the tape, to the audio cassette, to the compact disc. In between - only 100 years! And today? Streaming. Music and sound everywhere. You can think what you want about today's development, but it remains undisputed that the beginning was revolutionary.
That brings me back to the name.
Gramophone from the Greek: grámma - written and phōnḗ - sound or tone. Ingenious name - ingenious invention! A device for recording and reproducing sounds was invented in 1877 by Thomas Edison and improved by inventor Emil Berliner – from cylinder to flat disc phonograph record. Still used by many DJs today and invented in the USA.
The record - how does it work?
The phonograph records originally consisted of a flat, wax-coated zinc disc, which, like the cylinders for phonographs, had to be manufactured individually. The diaphragm was linked to the recording stylus in a way that caused it to vibrate laterally (side to side) as it traced a spiral onto a zinc disc very thinly coated with a compound of beeswax. The zinc disc was then immersed in a bath of chromic acid; this etched a groove into the disc where the stylus had removed the coating. The wax could be removed, and the sound was permanently preserved and the recording could be played. With some later improvements the flat discs of Berliner could be produced in large quantities at much lower cost than the cylinders of Edison's system.
What an effort! What attention to detail went into this?
In the beginning it was still a toy
The beginning of record duplication can be placed in 1892. Within just 4 years of its development! There must have been an incredible demand at that time. The earliest records had a diameter of 12 cm and were rather a toy. Regular records, on the other hand, had a diameter of 17.5 cm and, incidentally, in the beginning still had an engraved inscription instead of a label.
To play a record, a needle slides through the track of the spinning record, is moved up and down laterally by the wavy line of the track, and transfers these movements to a membrane. This can only radiate sound effectively if it has a funnel downstream. This allows it to generate more pressure, which is converted into volume. The size and shape of the funnel, along with the quality of the sound box and the needle, have a decisive influence on playback quality.
A gramophone as a kit? Not an invention of wooden-town.com
In the golden 1920s, easily transportable (and therefore usable outdoors, such as at picnics) portable gramophones were popular.
The gramophone was also available to hobbyists or small workshops in the form of individual parts or inexpensive kits. The technology was supplied, but the case had to be made by the hobbyist according to a supplied manual. Many music stores produced their "own" devices in this way. Brilliant idea!
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phonograph]
Why not? You build a gramophone.
Okay a kit, but then it must work! This model offers 100% tinkering fun. 100% retro charm. 100% functionality. That makes it the perfect gift for your loved ones and yourself. As a decorative object, it will be THE topic of conversation with you and your guests.
More information about the new wooden construction kit
Inspired by the gramophone developed by Edison, you get a vintage record player in retro design style. With this model, you're not just building a simple wooden model. You are building a gramophone that really works! This antique gramophone with beautiful melodies will take you back to the time when recorded sounds were still something very special.
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Do you still have records?
Then you can play them too.
But what's inside?
Included is a record disc that contains 3 pieces of music:
- The Merry Gent
- Memory of a dance
- The Giant Killers
It supports 17cm and 25cm records.
- Parts: 424 pieces
- Assembly time: About 8 hours
- Assembly size: 226*261*429mm
- Package size: 31.7*23.5*8.3cm
- Wooden parts: 424 pieces
- Material: plywood, internal machine (winding spring), accessories