The phonautograph, was patented by Léon Scott in 1857. This was the first attempt at recording music for playback. Along with a tuning fork tone and unintelligible snippets recorded as early as 1857, these are the earliest known recordings of sound.

In 1877, Thomas Edison invented the phonograph. Unlike the phonautograph, it was capable of both recording and reproducing sound. Despite the similarity of name, there is no documentary evidence that Edison's phonograph was based on Scott's phonautograph.

His recordings could be played back immediately. As time progressed, so too did Edison and with a new wax phonograph cylinder he dominated the sound market through the early years of the 20th century.

It wasn't long till more developements came in the aural machines. In 1901, 10-inch disc records were introduced, followed in 1903 by 12-inch records. These could play for more than three and four minutes respectively, while contemporary cylinders could only play for about two minutes. And for a while gramophone and disc recorders existed side by side.

Produced by Jane Carthy

Presented by Gordon Ledbetter

First Broadcast 5th April, 1973

An Irish radio documentary from RTÉ Radio 1, Ireland - Documentary on One - the home of Irish radio documentaries