[78-L] Record your voice!

[Michael Biel]

Ken "Silver Showcase" wrote:
> Very interesting, David.  Do you have a year to go with this?
>
> -- Ken
>
>   

I wrote about these zinc discs over 30 years ago in Record Research!  I 
pictured this one and a couple of others that seem to be the same with 
different labels.  1922 seems to be about when the Echo Disc and about 
five other brands hit the market. All but one had paper labels.  There 
is one brand that is a little larger and has an engraved label.   
Eldridge R. Johnson's son Fennimore wrote in his book that his father 
had discovered this principle in the 1890s when using zinc masters.  
What happens is that when you shout into a phonograph horn the needle 
vibrates in the blank groove and makes slight indentations in the zinc 
that can be faintly heard.  It is almost impossible to hear, it is not 
permanent because playing it smooths it out, and the disc can be 
reused.  These pre-date the ucoated aluminum discs but share a patent.

Michael Biel mbiel at mbiel.com

> David Lennick wrote:
>   
>> http://www.thoseoldrecords.com/A125/0003.JPG
>> Lot 3 - Echo Home Recording Disc
>> Note similarity to the Edison trademark
>>
>>
>> You put the disc on your phonograph, put the needle into the (pre-cut) groove, 
>> grab a megaphone and point it at the disc and YELL! Bet this was a big seller.
>>
>> dl
>>   
>>     
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