Thomas Edison invented the phonograph on August 12, 1877. It "will undoubtedly be liberally devoted to music," Edison predicted with stunning accuracy in 1878.

We're used to sound recordings. Music (in multiple genres), audiobooks, phone messages, recordings of family history, alert boops and beeps on our phones...even the happy little tune my hearing ...

On this date in 1877 Thomas Edison introduced his phonograph. The device was unique because it could both record and play sound. What were his historic first words on the new machine?

Phonograph, The. Skip to content Skip ... Nov. 7, 1877. Credit... The New York Times Archives. See the article in its original context from November 7, 1877, Page 4 Buy Reprints. View on timesmachine.

1877: Thomas Alva Edison recited Mary Had A Little Lamb into his phonograph - and made the world’s first recording of the human voice. 1897: The world’s first motor cab fleet began operations ...

1877: Emile Berliner invents a new kind of microphone. It assures the future of the telephone, but not fame for Berliner. Alexander Graham Bell had already invented his telephone, but without ...

We take our record players for granted. But how did they get here? Following ground-breaking experiments in France, it was the great American inventor Thomas Edison who first showed off the Phonograph ...