Edison Diamond Disc Record

Thomas Alva Edison invented the phonograph in 1877, which was the first device for recording and playing back sound.  However, after inventing and patenting the device, he redirected his efforts to the commercial development of electric lighting.  It wasn’t until ten years later that Edison Laboratories turned their attention back to improving the phonograph and the phonograph cylinder.  Later, in 1912, they introduced the Edison Diamond Disc Record, since the public seemed to prefer discs to cylinders.  The Diamond Disc produced superior audio fidelity compared against any other home record playing system of the time.  Edison Discs, unlike those of competing record producing companies, recorded sound vertically in the groove rather than laterally.  However, even with the superior sound, Edison records declined in popularity, partly due to them being more expensive, and partly due to their incompatibility with other phonograph machines that we designed to play the more typical laterally cut groove records. Edison records continued to lose market share, and eventually closed down in 1929.

One Edison Diamond Disc is owned, which I believe was produced in 1913.  One side of the disc is number 50100-R, with the song “Any Rags” performed by Arthur Collins.  The reverse of the disc is 50100-L, with the song “My Bambazoo” a duet performed by Arthur Collins and Byron Harlan.