Edison's first phonograph recorded sound by indenting
or making up and down impressions in a groove cut into a thin surface of
tin foil on a metal cyclinder 4in. long, 100 grooves per inch, powered
by a hand crank at a speed of about 70rpm.
1881
Tainter's lateral cut electroplate records were invented
but without any practical machine to play the.
1885
Tainter and Bell's graphophone recorded sound by incising
or making a vertical hill and dale cut into a thin surface of beeswax on
a cardboard tube 6in. long and 1 5/6 in. wide, 160 grooves per inch powered
by a hand crank at a speed of about 80rpm, after 1887 by a foot treadle
at 120rpm.
1938
Magnetic tape recorders were invented. They came
to the U.S. in 1945. This is a picture of one of the first
open reel stero tape recorders on the market in 1949.
1963
Phillips demonstrated the first compact audio cassette
using high quality BASF polyester 1/8inch tape that ran 1-7/8ips.
1966
U.S. cars were equipped with 8-track stero cartridge
players developed by William Lear. A year later home players were
introduced.
1984
The first Compact Disc pressing plant in the U.S. was
opened in Terre Haute, IN. By 1988 CD sales surpassed LP sales, leaving
CD and cassette as the two dominate consumer formats.
1995
Sony and Toshiba reached a compromise to develop a single
DVD standard rather than continue developing competing DVD players.
DVD players started selling in Japan in 1995, and the following year in
the U.S.
