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Recordings and audio recordings from 1888

2025.06.27
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Recordings and audio recordings from 1888

By 1888, recorded voices were no longer limited to invention experiments; they were being used for public demonstrations, transmission to distant locations, preservation of famous people's voices, and commercialization. Thomas Alva Edison's phonograph (1847–1931) attracted renewed attention as a recording device using a wax cylinder, and George Edward Gouraud's Little Menlo (1842–1912) produced a series of early voice recordings in Britain. Horatio Nelson Powers' (1826–1901) "The Phonograph's Salutation," choral recordings from the Handel Festival at Crystal Palace, public recordings from Little Menlo, and recordings involving Henry Irving (1838–1905) and William Ewart Gladstone (1809–1898) all illustrate the beginning of the phonograph's use as a medium for recording, transmitting, and preserving the human voice.

In the realm of recording technology, new media and business models emerged. Emile Berliner (1851–1929) gave a public demonstration of the gramophone, demonstrating the direction of disc recording. The developments surrounding the American Graphophone Company and the North American Phonograph Company strengthened the trend towards developing phonographs and graphophones as businesses. Recording and audio recordings in 1888 encompass multiple developments, including not only existing sound sources, but also recording media, company organizations, voice communications, and the collection of recordings of famous people.

In the same year, a series of events occurred around the world that would significantly change the institutions and industries of modern society. In the Brazilian Empire, the Golden Law (Lei Áurea) was enacted, abolishing slavery. In the United States, the National Geographic Society was established, creating an organization to spread geographical, exploration, and scientific knowledge. George Eastman (1854–1932) launched the Kodak Camera, bringing photography from a skill only for professionals to a means of recording that could be used by the general public. In the German Empire, Bertha Benz (1849–1944) demonstrated the practicality of automobiles by conducting long-distance automobile journeys. In London, the Jack the Ripper murders occurred, leaving a strong impact on urban society and the way the media was conducted. In England, the Football League was established, and the institutionalization of modern sports progressed.

June

In June 1888, there was a series of attempts to use recorded sound as a means of transatlantic communication and recording medium, as well as attempts to record sound in large public spaces. Powers' "The Phonograph's Salutation" was created as part of a plan to send recorded poetry as a phonogram to England, and was delivered to Little Menlo in Gouleau. Also, at the Handel Music Festival held at Crystal Palace, experiments were conducted to record large choirs from a distance. The recordings of June 1888 indicate that the phonograph was beginning to be used as a medium to connect individual voices, poetry, public performances, and long-distance communication.

June 16: The Phonograph's Salutation

On June 16, 1888, Powers recorded "The Phonograph's Salutation." This recording was part of an experiment to send a poem recorded on a phonograph as a phonogram over a distance. The recording was made in Orange, New Jersey, United States, and later delivered to Little Menlo in Gouleau. It is an early audio recording that shows how recorded voices began to be used not only as records of live performances, but also as messages sent to distant locations.

TitleArtistMatrixCatalog No.
The Phonograph's SalutationHoratio Nelson Powers

[Events of June 16, 1888]
- A youth Christian gymnasium opens in London.
In Long Acre, London, the Young Men's Christian Association gymnasium was opened by Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (1841–1910). In the late 19th century, interest in physical education, gymnastics, and health promotion grew in cities, and the opening of this gymnasium was part of the movement to spread modern physical culture into urban life.

June 26: The earliest phonograms received in the UK.

On June 26, 1888, a phonogram recorded by Edison at his laboratory was received in Britain. According to the label, this audio was recorded at 2:00 AM on June 16, 1888, and is recorded as "the first phonogram received in Britain." Although it is difficult to fully verify the contents of the recording, it is an important audio record that shows that attempts to send recorded voices across the Atlantic Ocean were already being made as early as June 1888.

TitleArtistMatrixCatalog No.
First Phonogram recd. in EnglandThomas Alva Edison

[Events of June 26, 1888]
- A U.S. patent for Karl Benz's self-propelled vehicle was granted.
In the United States, Carl Benz (1844–1929) received U.S. Patent No. 385,087 for a self-propelling vehicle. The patent, titled "Self-Propelling Vehicle," describes the structure of a three-wheeled vehicle equipped with a gas engine, as well as the mechanisms for starting, stopping, and braking. In the late 1880s, new technologies such as sound recording devices, electricity, photography, and automobiles were all moving towards practical application, and this patent also reflects the trend of mechanical means of transportation spreading as part of modern industry.

June 29: Handel Festival: “Israel In Egypt” – Excerpt

On June 29, 1888, a portion of George Frideric Handel's (1685–1759) oratorio "Israel in Egypt" was recorded at the Handel Music Festival held at the Crystal Palace. Conducted by August Manns (1825–1907), the recording is believed to have captured a choir of approximately 4,000 people from a distance using a phonograph. While there are limitations to the sound quality and discernible details, it is an early example of an attempt to record a large-scale public performance and is important as one of the earliest surviving music recordings.

TitleArtistMatrixCatalog No.
Handel Festival at Crystal Palace [Excerpt of “Israel in Egypt” / Handel] (recording no. 1)Chorus of 4000 voices; August Manns, conductor
Handel Festival at Crystal Palace [Excerpt of “Israel in Egypt” / Handel] (recording no. 2)Chorus of 4000 voices; August Manns, conductor
Handel Festival at Crystal Palace [Excerpt of “Israel in Egypt” / Handel] (recording no. 3)Chorus of 4000 voices; August Manns, conductor

[Events of June 29, 1888]
- Early appendectomies were performed in England.
In London, Frederick Treves (1853–1923) performed one of the earliest appendectomies in England. Surgical medicine in the late 19th century underwent significant changes due to advancements in anesthesia, sterilization techniques, and abdominal surgery, and this surgery can be seen as part of a trend where modern surgery ventured into treating diseases that could not be addressed by medical treatment alone.

August

In August 1888, a series of public demonstrations of the phonograph and recordings of famous people's voices took place, centered around Little Menlo. On August 14, a public recording was made for members of the London press, resulting in multiple audio recordings including music, greetings, comments, and whistling. On August 17, a recording of a letter from Gouleau to Edison and a piano solo were made, and on August 30, a reading cylinder of Henry Irving is said to have been created. The recordings from this month suggest that the phonograph was used not only as a device for public demonstrations, but also as a medium to preserve individual voices and performances and transmit them to distant audiences.

August 14: Little Menlo public recording

On August 14, 1888, Little Menlo hosted a public recording of the phonograph for London journalists. This collection of recordings includes a welcome to the press, congratulations to Edison, an introduction by Gouleau, musical performances, and whistling. Some of the recordings have unstable audio quality, making it difficult to fully identify the performers and speakers, but they are important documents that convey how the phonograph was publicly unveiled and how voices and music were recorded on the spot.

TitleArtistMatrixCatalog No.
The phonograph's welcome to London PressN/A
Piano and cornet (“The lost chord”)unidentified cornet player and pianist
Talks to Mr. EdisonN/A
London Press congratulations to Mr. Edison; Mr. AM Broadley continuedAlexander Meyrick Broadley; London Press
London Press congratulations to Mr. Edison [and some unknown whistling (Mrs. Alice J. Shaw?)]London Press; possibly Alice J. Shaw
Letter to Mr. Edison from Col. Gouraud, August 14, Little MenloEdward Gouraud
Whistling by Mrs. Shaw [Alice J. Shaw], August 14, Little MenloAlice J. Shaw
Col. Gouraud introducing to Edison the representatives of the London PressEdward Gouraud
Cheers to Mr. Edison by London Press, August 14, Little MenloLondon Press

[Events of August 14, 1888]
- Patent granted for AC ammeter.
In the United States, Oliver Blackburn Shallenberger (1860–1898) patented an alternating current meter. This device was used to measure the amount of alternating current used and played a crucial role in establishing a system where power companies could calculate charges based on usage. In an era of widespread electric lighting, power supply, and urban infrastructure, the technology to measure electricity as "amount used" also became a foundation supporting modern life.

August 17: Recording of Gouraud's Letters and piano solo

On August 17, 1888, Little Menlo recorded a letter from Gouraud to Edison, as well as a piano solo by Margaret Bucknall Eyre (dates of birth and death unknown). Gouraud's recording was part of an experiment to use the phonograph as an audio letter, embodying the idea of sending a recorded voice to a distant recipient. The piano solo recording is evidence that instrumental performances, as well as voices, were recorded at Little Menlo.

TitleArtistMatrixCatalog No.
Letter from Col. Gouraud to Mr. Edison, August 17, 1888Edward Gouraud
Piano solo by Mrs. EyreMargaret Bucknall Eyre

[Events of August 17, 1888]
- The "Castle of the Three Dragons" at the Barcelona World Expo has opened.
In Barcelona, in the Kingdom of Spain, the Castell dels Tres Dragons opened as a facility for the Barcelona Universal Exposition. This building was designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner (1850–1923) as a café-restaurant for the exposition. The architecture, which combines iron, brick, and decorative forms, became one of the symbols of later Catalan Modernism and demonstrates that the exposition was a place that combined urban development, tourism, industrial exhibitions, and architectural expression.

August 30: Henry Irving's Reading Cylinder

It is believed that a cylinder recording a reading by Henry Irving was made in Little Menlo on August 30, 1888. The label reads "Declamation / by / Henry Irving / “Little Menlo” / August 30 / 1888," indicating that the voice of a famous actor was recorded at the Gouleau residence. While details of the recording's contents and its current condition cannot be confirmed, it is important as an early example of an attempt to preserve an actor's reading as audio.

TitleArtistMatrixCatalog No.
Declamation by Henry IrvingHenry Irving

[Events of August 30, 1888]
- Baron Walsingham conducts a large-scale grouse hunt in Yorkshire
In Yorkshire, England, Thomas de Grey, 6th Baron Walsingham (1843–1919), conducted a large-scale grouse hunt on Blubberhouses Moor. Records from that day illustrate the connection between hunting culture in late 19th-century British aristocracy, the development of rail travel, and the management of vast moors for recreation. From a modern perspective, it is also a symbolic event for understanding the scale of hunting and the use of wildlife at that time.

Autumn of 1888

Around the fall of 1888, a recording was made, supposedly for the Edison Talking Doll. This recording, an example of "Twinkle, twinkle little star," was recorded on a metal cylinder, and according to National Park Service records, the recording date is listed as the fall of 1888. The performer cannot be identified from the records.

Recording for talking dolls

The Edison Talking Doll was an early example of a toy that incorporated a small recording and playback mechanism inside the doll, allowing children to hear recorded voices. "Twinkle, twinkle little star," from around the autumn of 1888, is an earlier example than the brown wax cylinder recordings produced for the Edison Talking Dolls around February-May 1890. Unlike musical cylinders used in theaters and exhibitions, it represents an attempt to apply recording technology to toys for home use.

TitleArtistMatrixCatalog No.
Twinkle, twinkle little star (Example 1)N/A

[Events that occurred around the autumn of 1888]
A series of murders by Jack the Ripper occur in London.
In the autumn of 1888, the Jack the Ripper serial murders took place in Whitechapel, London. The perpetrator was never identified, and the case remains unsolved, but it dramatically increased public interest in poverty, urban security, newspaper coverage, and police investigations. While the dark underbelly of the big city was reported daily, it was also an era in which recording and communication technologies such as photography, telegraph, newspapers, and sound recordings widely disseminated information about social events.

October

In October 1888, audio recording using phonographs spread further, primarily spearheaded by Little Menlo. On October 5th, several congratulatory speeches and toasts were recorded at a dinner party, demonstrating an attempt to preserve audio as a record of speeches and social interactions. In late October, "Around the World on the Phonograph" was recorded, making the idea of recording voices with a phonograph and distributing them around the world even clearer. The recordings of October 1888 showed that the phonograph was no longer merely an experimental device or a tool for public demonstrations, but a medium involved in socializing, communication, commemoration, and publicity.

October 5th: Recordings of congratulatory speeches and toasts from the Little Menlo dinner party

On October 5, 1888, at Little Menlo, recordings were made of speeches and toasts at a dinner party. Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900) spoke of his surprise at experiencing the phonograph for the first time, as well as his bewilderment at the idea of music being recorded forever. These recordings include Gouraud's proceedings and introductions, speeches from attendees, and cheers for toasts, showing that the phonograph was used not merely as a device to preserve voices, but as a medium to construct the social and ceremonial atmosphere of the event.

TitleArtistMatrixCatalog No.
After dinner toast at Little Menlo: Hip hip hooray! (?)George Edward Gouraud; unidentified speakers
After dinner toast at Little Menlo: Sir Arthur Sullivan and AM BroadleyArthur Sullivan; Alexander Meyrick Broadley
Mr. Henry Cecil Raikes, Her Majesty's Postmaster General and Edmund Yates [address to Mr. Edison]Henry Cecil Raikes; Edmund Yates
After dinner toast at Little Menlo: Beginning of toast, listing some of the individuals at the dinnerGeorge Edward Gouraud; unidentified speakers
Mr. Henry Trueman Wood and Mr. James Dredge to EdisonHenry Trueman Wood; James Dredge
After dinner toast at Little Menlo: Opening remarks; Toasts and cheers to Edmund Yates, Sir Arthur Sullivan, AM Broadley and Postmaster GeneralGeorge Edward Gouraud; Edmund Yates; Arthur Sullivan; Alexander Meyrick Broadley; Henry Cecil Raikes

[Events of October 5, 1888]
- The former Berlin Philharmonic has reopened.
In Berlin, then part of the German Empire, the Old Berlin Philharmonie (Alte Berliner Philharmonie) reopened. Originally built as a roller skating rink, the building was renovated into a large concert hall. It later became an important home for the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (Berliner Philharmoniker) and a key venue supporting the development of Berlin as a city of music.

Late October: Around the World on the Phonograph

In late October 1888, Edison recorded "Around the World on the Phonograph." The recording is believed to have taken place in or around West Orange, New Jersey, United States. In this recording, Edison spoke of an imaginary journey around the world through the phonograph. Recorded on a yellow paraffin cylinder, this audio is considered one of the oldest surviving recordings of Edison's own voice. It is a particularly symbolic audio record in the history of early recordings, as it preserves the voice of the man who invented the phonograph through the phonograph itself.

TitleArtistMatrixCatalog No.
Around the World on the PhonographThomas Alva Edison

[Events that occurred around late October 1888]
Gauguin arrives in Arles and begins living with Van Gogh.
On October 23, 1888, Paul Gauguin (1848–1903) arrived in Arles, French Republic, and began living with Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890). Van Gogh had hoped to create a place in southern France where painters could collaborate, and Gauguin's arrival brought that idea closer to reality. The two worked together for about two months, but their differences in personality and artistic views gradually grew, leading to their breakup in December of the same year.

november

In November 1888, among the recordings of notable figures being produced around George Edward Gouraud (1842–1912), there was an audio message from William Ewart Gladstone (1809–1898) to Thomas Alva Edison (1847–1931). The label transcription identifies it as a "message to Edison" recorded in London on November 22, 1888, indicating that phonographs were used not only to preserve the voices of notable figures but also as audio letters delivered to specific recipients. However, due to issues with reproduction, transcription, and storage routes of later media and label information, the existence of the original cylinder cannot be confirmed through documentation.

November 22: Audio message from Gladstone to Edison

On November 22, 1888, Gladstone is said to have recorded an audio message addressed to Edison. This recording is part of a series of recordings of famous people promoted by Gouleau. According to the records, the recording took place in London and the content is a message addressed to Edison, but the information currently known relies on later label transcriptions and archived materials, and there are parts of the recording medium's history that cannot be confirmed.

TitleArtistMatrixCatalog No.
Message to Mr. EdisonWilliam Ewart Gladstone

[Events of November 22, 1888]
The Concertgebouw Orchestra will perform Richard Strauss's Horn Concerto.
In Amsterdam, Kingdom of the Netherlands, the newly established Concertgebouw Orchestra performed Richard Strauss's (1864–1949) Horn Concerto. The orchestra was conducted by its first principal conductor, Willem Kes (1856–1934). This orchestra, founded in 1888, later became one of Europe's leading orchestras and played a crucial role in performing works by young composers.

december

In December 1888, label information indicating the voices of members of the British Parliament was found on white wax cylinders around Gouleau. On December 6th, a recording allegedly of the voice of Arthur Wellesley Peel (1829–1912), Speaker of the House of Commons, was made at the Palace of Westminster. However, even with this recording, there are limitations to what can be confirmed regarding the existing media, labels, and later storage routes, and a complete verification of the condition of the original cylinder and the content of the recording is not possible.

December 6: Recording of House of Commons Speaker Arthur Wellesley Peel

It is believed that on December 6, 1888, a cylinder recording the voice of Arthur Wellesley Peel, President of the House of Commons, was made at the Palace of Westminster in London. The label reads "The Speaker of House of Commons," and it is positioned as an example of the recording activities around Gouleau aimed at preserving the voices of politicians and public figures. However, the only information available is later label information and records based on existing documents, and there are unconfirmed aspects regarding the content of the recording and the history of the medium.

TitleArtistMatrixCatalog No.
Voice of The Speaker of House of CommonsArthur Wellesley Peel

[Events of December 6, 1888]
Will Hay is born.
Will Hay (1888–1949), later known as an actor, comedian, and film director, was born in Stockton-on-Tees, England. Hay gained popularity in British cinema in the 1930s, becoming known for his comedic portrayals of school teachers and other figures in positions of authority. He was also an amateur astronomer, known for his observations of Saturn's white spots. His integration of entertainment, film, and scientific interests within one person gives a glimpse into the spread of modern popular culture.

December 8: The voice of the Duke of Cambridge

On December 8, 1888, in London, a cylinder was made that is believed to contain a recording of the voice of George William Frederick Charles, Duke of Cambridge (1819–1904). The label reads "Voice of The Duke of Cambridge / London, Dec. 8 / 1888". While there are limitations to fully verifying the contents of the recording, it is important as an example of an attempt to preserve the voice of a member of the royal family using a phonograph. In late 1888 in London, attempts were being made to record the voices of not only politicians and public figures, but also people close to the royal family.

TitleArtistMatrixCatalog No.
Voice of The Duke of CambridgeGeorge William Frederick Charles, Duke of Cambridge

[Events of December 8, 1888]
- Illustrated Police News publishes images of the Whitechapel incident.
In Britain, the December 8, 1888 issue of The Illustrated Police News featured an illustration dealing with the Whitechapel case. The Jack the Ripper serial murders were not only an unsolved murder case, but also an urban event that was strongly imprinted on the public's mind through newspapers, illustrations, and mass media. Not only the crime itself, but also the process by which fear and anxiety spread through print media, symbolizes London society at the end of the 19th century.

Circa 1888-1891

Between 1888 and 1891, there was a continuing movement around Gouraud to record and preserve the voices of prominent figures using phonographs. Some of these recordings have verifiable individual dates, while others require estimation based on later label transfers or their provenance. The recorded voices served not only as audio messages to Edison, but also as historical records preserving the voices of politicians, actors, writers, and members of the royal family. Gouraud's "phonogramic album" illustrates the spread of early phonograph culture, where recorded voices were collected, exchanged, and preserved.

Goureau's "phonogramic album"“

George Edward Gouraud's (1842–1912) "phonogramic album" is not a commercial album in the modern sense, but rather a collection of early phonograph recordings related to Little Menlo and Gouraud's phonograph performances in London. In 1888, Horatio Nelson Powers' (1826–1901) "The Phonograph's Salutation," recordings related to public performances at Little Menlo, Henry Irving's (1838–1905) readings, and William Ewart Gladstone's (1809–1898) audio messages can be found within this context.

This collection of recordings is linked to the early concept of the phonograph: to preserve the voices of famous people as historical records and deliver them to distant locations. However, the wax cylinder materials that have been passed down in later years contain a mix of original cylinders, copies, label transfers, re-recordings, and uncertainties regarding their acquisition history. For each recording, it is necessary to describe the recording date, recording location, speaker, and current state to the extent that can be confirmed from the source material, without making any definitive statements that the original cylinder still exists.

The recording of Robert Browning's (1812–1889) reading is an audio recording made on April 7, 1889. Recordings related to Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–1892) and Florence Nightingale (1820–1910) are also classified in the documentation as recordings from 1889 or later, or from 1890 or later.

Gouraud's "phonogramic album" (circa 1888–1891)
This book analyzes Gouleau's "phonogramic album" from the perspective of early recording history. It organizes Little Menlo's phonograph recordings, including audio messages, readings, speeches, musical recordings, and voices of notable figures from around 1888–1891.
museum-of-pop-music.com

A sound recording possibly made around 1888.

Some early recordings from around 1888 have survived without clear identification of the recording year, recorder, or speaker. Early wax cylinder and graphophone recordings often rely on later labels, provenance history, and estimations by researchers, making it difficult to determine the recording date or content for many. A graphophone cylinder believed to contain Queen Victoria's voice is one such audio record that retains these uncertain elements. While it should be considered separately from recordings with definitively determined dates, it is a valuable document that shows how recording technology in the late 1880s was linked to the idea of preserving the voices of royalty and public figures.

A Graphophone cylinder believed to be of Queen Victoria

A graphophone cylinder possibly containing the voice of Queen Victoria, dating from around 1888, has been preserved. The Science Museum Group describes this cylinder as a graphophone cylinder from around 1888, potentially containing the voice of Queen Victoria. It is an early type of cylinder, made of paper tube coated with wax, and represents a graphophone recording from the late 1880s.

However, it cannot be definitively concluded that the speaker is Queen Victoria herself. The recording is heavily damaged, and the audible content is limited. Later investigations have identified parts of what appears to be the voice of a refined woman, but this relies on the history of its acquisition and circumstantial evidence. While this cylinder suggests that there may have been an attempt to record the voices of members of the royal family in the late 1880s, it is an audio record that leaves many elements uncertain regarding the recording date, location, and speaker identification.

Recording technology and commercialization in 1888

In 1888, improvements in recording technology itself and the commercialization of recording devices progressed simultaneously. Edison's phonograph evolved from an early model using tinfoil to a more practical device using wax cylinders, gaining attention as a machine that could more reliably record, play back, and preserve sound. At the West Orange Laboratory, improvements were made to the recording and playback mechanisms and media, expanding the possibilities for applying the phonograph to communication, dictation, recording, and entertainment.

From a corporate perspective, recording technology began to shift from an inventor's experiment to a business. The activities of the Edison Phonograph Company and the North American Phonograph Company created a trend to expand phonographs into regional sales, rental, and operation businesses. Around the same time, the American Grafophone Company commercialized the grafhophone, and Berliner demonstrated the direction of disc recording with a public demonstration of the gramophone. 1888 was also the year that recording began to move from being merely an invention to an industry with companies, media, applications, and markets.

Edison's improved phonograph

In 1888, Edison's phonograph underwent a major improvement, moving from its early tin foil-based design to a more practical recording device using a wax cylinder. The Improved Phonograph redesigned the recording medium, cutter, playback mechanism, and drive system to improve recording and playback stability. While tin foil was unsuitable for repeated playback and preservation, the wax cylinder made it possible to preserve recorded audio in a more manageable format.

This improvement transformed the phonograph from a temporary invention into a device usable for dictation, communication, recording, and public performance. Recordings related to Little Menlo in 1888, Edison's own voice recordings, and recordings of the Handel Festival demonstrate that the improved phonograph began to be used for actual voice recording. Edison's improved phonograph was a crucial technology on the eve of the establishment of the recording industry, leading to commercial recordings and the development of local phonograph companies from 1889 onward.

News report on the demonstration of the completed phonograph in August 1888.

The London News, dated August 30, 1888, featured Edison's Perfected Phonograph under the headline "The New Phonograph." The article covered experiments with the new phonograph conducted at Edison's laboratory, and touched upon its potential not only for recording sound but also for playing music.

The article describes how music was played from a phonograph, with the cornet sounding clearly audible, while the snare drum and whistling were difficult to distinguish. Additionally, while the article's images show what appears to be the song title "Hail Columbia," the legibility of the source material is limited, so this cannot be confirmed as the song title. The performers, recording date, recording location, and recording medium number are also unavailable from the source material.

This report indicates that by the summer of 1888, the fully developed phonograph was being featured in newspapers as a music recording and playback device. While it's not possible to identify the song title or performers from the existing recordings, this contemporary document shows that the 1888 phonograph demonstration was perceived not only as a recording of voices, but also as an experiment in reproducing instrument sounds and musical compositions.

Edison Phonograph Company and North American Phonograph Company

By 1888, Edison had not only acquired the phonograph as an invention, but also established a company structure to expand it as a business. The Edison Phonograph Company managed the rights related to Edison's phonograph and played a role in bringing improved devices to commercial use. Recording devices were still expected to be used not so much as products for enjoying music at home, but rather as machines for dictation, communication, office records, and public demonstrations.

In the same year, Jesse H. Lippincott (1842–1894) founded the North American Phonograph Company, attempting to commercialize the rights to phonographs and graphophones. This company expanded its system of leasing and operating equipment through phonograph companies established in various regions. The corporate developments of 1888 indicate that recording technology was beginning to move beyond being confined to inventors and laboratories, into a business involving regional companies, sales rights, and licensing agreements.

Phonograph research at the West Orange Laboratory

At the West Orange Laboratory, research into improving the phonograph began in earnest in 1888. Edison and the laboratory's engineers worked to improve the recording medium, needle, diaphragm, cylinder rotation mechanism, and playback mechanism to make recordings more stable. Early models using tin foil could preserve sound, but they had limitations in terms of preservation and playback stability. The improved models using wax cylinders marked a crucial turning point in making recorded voices more manageable and easier to handle.

This research was not simply about improving the performance of the device. The phonograph was expected to be a machine that could be used for dictation, communication, administrative records, public demonstrations, and entertainment, and the laboratory was working on its practical application to suit these uses. Recordings from 1888 included Edison's own voice, phonograms sent to Little Menlo, recordings of large choirs, and congratulatory speeches and toasts at dinner parties, and the improvements made at the West Orange Laboratory formed the technical foundation that supported these recording activities.

Berliner's Gramophone release

On May 16, 1888, Berliner gave a public demonstration of the gramophone at the Franklin Institute. While phonographs and graphophones had developed primarily around cylinders, Berliner's gramophone employed a method of recording sound vibrations as lateral grooves on a disc. This marked a significant turning point, expanding the recording medium from cylinders to discs.

Berliner's demonstration in 1888 marked a departure from Edison's improved phonograph and graphophone projects, offering a glimpse into the future of recording technology. Disc recording, which would later become central to commercial records, was still in the experimental stage at this point, but it held great potential as a medium suitable for duplication, preservation, and distribution. 1888 was a year in which cylinder recording progressed in practical application, while the direction of disc recording also became publicly apparent.

American Graphphone Company and Graphphone-related businesses

The American Graphophone Company developed as a company to commercialize the graphophone technology developed by Chichester Bell (1848–1924) and Charles Sumner Tainter (1854–1940). The graphophone was conceived as a device for dictation and office records, using replaceable cylinders coated with a waxy material on a paper tube. Although it was a different technology from Edison's phonograph, both were machines that recorded and played back sound, and they played a vital role in the commercialization of sound recording in the late 1880s.

In 1888, Lippincott acquired the distribution rights from the American Graphophone Company, and then consolidated Edison's phonograph rights, creating a system under the North American Phonograph Company to handle both types of instruments. As a result, while phonographs and graphophones competed with each other, they were incorporated into the same sales and rental business framework. The graphophone business was an important development that led to the later Columbia Records recording business, and 1888 was the year that laid the commercial foundation for it.

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