Edison's Impression: Laying Sound into a Groove 

I love how formal Alec is in these older videos. It's like he's trying his best to be a PBS show but he still can't quite hide the manic exasperation of video production.

In the 1900s: “hey jimmy! Go to the store and pick up a can of music!”

Ive been watching Techmoan and 8-bit Guy for a while. For whatever reason RU-vid just now let me know your channel exists. I wish it had come earlier, these vids are great!

Edison's original patent for the phonograph included a disc version. The reason for the cylinder was to keep the speed of the groove constant under the stylus.

Its crazy hearing a recording that old. Even people who were newborns when that was new died of old age

16:12 "I'm not counting on my iPod working in 2115." My iPod didn't even live past 2015

interesting fun fact about that style of governor, its where the term running "Balls out" comes from. Stationary steam engines commonly had one of a similar design except instead of sliding a disc against a brake they controlled a steam valve and were weighted with big iron balls. a steam engine at its max speed had the arms with these weights all the way out.

Recording sessions were amazing! The whole band had to gather around a cone to capture the sound.

When I used to work at Borders (remember them?), I had a customer bring back an Enrico Caruso CD complaining that the "sound was horrible". I tried explaining to him that there was only so much that could be done to recordings made nearly a century ago, but he insisted that is only sucked because the record label was lazy with the transfer and didn't care. In my years of retail, it's a tie between him and a lady that didn't understand what fiction was as my stupidest customers of all time.

_"Do you have Prince Albert in a can?"_ "Sorry, we only have Thomas Edison left."

I can only imagine what this was like when it first came out, it must have been fantastic. The audio quality isn't up to par compared to our modern standards, on top of the thing being over 100 years old, but imagine what it must have been like having an entire band playing form a little box in your living room.

Years ago my wife and I were checking out the collection of antiques in Knott's Berry Farm, and they had an early juke box that played wax cylinders. It still worked, and they even let us try it. It was pretty amazing. It was called the Edison Multiphone. It had 24 wax cylinders mounted on a Ferris wheel sort of thing. When you put in your nickel and selected the song you wanted to hear, the Ferris wheel would rotate to move the correct cylinder into position to be played. By the time we returned a year or two later, they no longer allowed anyone to operate it due to its age.

I was told that when these recordings were made, they'd line up a dozen or so recorders, side to side to most efficiently make multiples copies at one time. The cylinders were also numbered as to which machine they were recorded on. Much later, it was discovered that if you were to play back a cylinder from the first and last recorder simultaneously, you witness a true stereophonic playback!

I just can't get enough of these videos. You are incredibly thorough, but not at all dry. The ability to take apart seemingly complex subjects and make it not only palatable, but interesting to the layman, is a unique skill and the hallmark of a great teacher.

"This one looks interesting slash it's conveniently placed in front of me!" ... excellent videos... and quite funny from time to time

I like that his background 5 years ago was still conceptually similar to current one, despite being quite different in implementation.

New to your channel and going back to watch old stuff, love it. One thing you missed out on to tell people was that if they didn't like how loud the music was they would muffle it by "sticking a sock into it" which is where you get that phrase that we still use today.

Thanks for the great video. I have a portable (20 pounds or so) Edison machine for two minute cylinders from about the 1900 - 1910 decade. The cylinders still sound surprisingly good even though many are well over 100 years old. I had a couple of cylinders deteriorate. One Edison wax cylinder was attacked by mold and another shattered when I slid it on the mandrel. The careful engineering in the machine is quite evident and there is a lot of attention to detail, even in the spring motor. The reproducer is very interesting. The stylus is a very carefully ground sapphire, and it is sort of club-shaped with a ball point. I have no idea how the stylus was machined, but it is probably one of if not the most expensive components in the machine. Over all it is a fascinating machine and nowhere as simple as you’d think at first glance. As far as I know, everything on the machine I have is original and it still works almost like it did 110+ years ago with essentially zero maintenance.

Wow its crazy how good even his old videos are

This is amazing, the genius, and I just imagine the people who heard a recording like this for the first time thinking it was magic lol

I got through most of this video before it dawned on me that you just have an antique phonograph. I mean, I've been binging your channel so I realize you've got a lot of cool stuff, but, just, "Hey, I'll whip out my antique phonograph and tell everyone about it." That's a level of cool that most of us will never reach, and I could never dream of.

The most interesting thing about this to me is the fact that these people are no longer with us and essentially we’re listening to ghosts play music

I've seen a lot of videos explaining the phonograph but yours is the most detailed and complete. Nice job! And I'm also enjoying all your other videos too!

Have you ever considered doing a video on player pianos? The world of mechanical music is, in my opinion, part of the story of sound recording.

I stumbled across one of your videos this morning about the vcr....an I was hooked. After 3 hours of viewing the evolution of home video media I had to leave for work. I could not get your presentations out of my head. Very educational and extremely enjoyable, they most certainly, have been! You remind me of a favorite Science Teacher I had in High School. Passionate in explaining, Brilliant in personality! I immediately found your show again upon returning home and immediately subscribed. Thank you for these videos. OUTSTANDING job! I've enjoyed each one immensely. ✌❤😊

The minutia of your channel/videos in general is astounding. Love it.

I come back to this playlist from time to time. Its remarkable how you can relay information to make it easily understandable. You make great productions. Thanks

Some of the best videos on RU-vid, great work and so informative.

Wow! I just rewatched this from several years ago. Amazing how much your hair has grown and to see how well your production value has stayed top notch!

You Tube algo brought this to my home screen. awesome to see your earlier videos!!! Always fun and always something to learn.

Fantastic explanations! This channel has been consistently great for years. Keep up the good work! 👍 👏

Old technology will never fail to amaze me

All your videos are so freaking amazing. Keep going, Alec!

Awesome video. I was dismayed to see the number of views. Your VHS vid was recommended when I watched one of Techmoan's vids, and now I'm watching this.

Going through your back logs, great content. Thank you for delivering this information in a interesting way.

You have come so far from these older videos. You are one of my favorite channels. Good job!

I was listening to this via earbuds and I was confused at the presentation and sound quality. "Is this an old one I haven't seen before?" I asked myself. 4 years ago, says the details page. Still fantastic, but very noticeable. Good job on improving so much over the years!

Your humour is on point. Keep it up!

I just found your channel today, and have checked a few things. I already knew about most of it, but at least I can say you did a fine job of explaining it to someone new to this old technology. Keep up the good work.

This channel is gold. So glad I found it today.

Great videos, thank for all the information, very interesting and well versed, thanks for sharing. And I love the dry humor on them :) , thanks again, and keep doing the videos, they are a blast.

WHOA! This is an "old" one~! I've recently started watching Alec's videos for a year now and just came across this one. The production is just as good.

I had to go waay back to middle school lessons of how sound waves work to wrap my head around how that reproducer works lol. Excellent videos and humor!

The quality of your videos is exemplary, man! I wish you had more viewers, you certainly deserve them :)

Edison should have put his name on the cylinder case a few more times. There was almost an angle I could hold it at and not see his name, I never would have remembered who made it...

What an amazing channel! Seriously good work and like others now subbed along side Techmoan and 8 Bit Guy

A treasure trove of information on how things work there, marvellous.

Excellent video! I really enjoyed it and the information is priceless! Thank you for making the video and posting it!

Another excellent video.. Definitely deserves more views

I like old Alec, his haircut seems like tech geek, plus the studio seems more like classy & feels like warm environment. Hope sometimes in the future he will create a video in his old studio & old haircut again.....for nostalgia sake of course

This channel is one of the best channels on RU-vid.

Great presentation!

Thats impressive! Just found your channel and I'm watching it allllLllll

Holy f these videos are so damn delightful!

I love your contextually orange wall mate. Beautiful.

Yes I'm just trying to find all your videos, that are fantastic with such with such knowledge

Tin foil is the answer to everything

Damn, I’m thrilled!! Thank you so much

Omg the analog quality. It’s so great. I love being a snob about it. Like a cat screeching in yer ear. Analog. Gold.

Loved the talking Edison cylinder, I still have an old Edison cylinder cover, which displays Edison's face all over my kitchen I think there's only so many people on earth who can appreciate that old techno nostalgia

Considering this is the 2nd format for replayable audio it sounds pretty damn good.

You didn't explain what the cat hair was for.

I know these are a lot of work but I could watch for hours on a day.

Omg you just gave me a new idea on how to introduce my trig students to sinusoids!! Bless this channel!

Alec, Do not use a 4-minute reproducer to play 2-minute wax records. The 4 minute stylus is too small for the larger 2 minute record grooves and will damage them. You can safely play 4 minute wax and celluloid records with the H reproducer, but you need to have a model C reproducer to play the record demonstrated in the video

Great vid, I learned a lot!

A very good video you made here on the phonograph

My MCS tape deck from Penney's is a bit older than is yours. Mine has analog meters. Alec, you have come a long way!

13:40 the phonograph concept was initially a recorder/player, so they have to differ between the recording and the playback stylus.

Your knowledge about human technology from beginning unimaginable.

My younger brother lived in Savannah, GA and made extra money for years restoring old Edison's, Victrola's and even player pianos. Some years ago he gave me a Victrola & a 1905 Kimball Player Piano. Pretty great kid brother. We are adopting a 9 year old girl and just played the piano for the first time over Skype about two hours ago. She moves in in November and I cannot wait for her to hear the Victrola. Thanks for these videos. The presentation is great.

I must say I love how you inject little bits of humour (yes,with a 'u'. "Maybe it's because I'm an Englishman!") Into what could otherwise be rather dry subjects.The perfect balance of sillyness and well reasearched and excellently written scripts.It' what makes Technology Connections my favourite Yt show/channel. Bravo,Alec.You are a natural writer/presenter (IMHO)

There was also the automatic piano (my name). It worked on a scroll of paper with holes of various lengths. The scroll passed over a mechanism that was pedal powered. The mechanism linked in with the piano levers and reproduced the movement to move the levers and hammers that hit the piano strings. The scrolls were stored in boxes about 12” long by around 1” and 1/2.

Brown-painted wall in the background - foreshadowing! The early years... before "the magic of buying two of them", but still with that exquisite dry humor - "slash conveniently placed in front of me".

Great this channel has been here 5 years!

Educational thank you!

Love the talking Edison graphics! 😁

comparing this to what the channel has become now... simply amazing.

I'm so glad I finally started looking at your earlier videos. You began your channel in fine style, though I also like the way it developed later on. This is amazing, though - how did you get access to an original phonograph? Was it borrowed?

keep making great videos, please.

Very interesting and well researched.

That is so fascinating. To think that this how we had to first hear music.

Is fascinating to hear voices from people that existed 100 years before us

Thanks for the song, i enjoy a lot.

Tech Moan channel has the pleasure of owning a 2022 released cylinder by a current band which is a 4 minute cylinder. Awesome to watch these older videos. In 100 years they'll be looking back at RU-vid and its place in tech history.

Bring back this intro! It's so cool!

I love how your videos have no ads

When I like a channel I go right back to the first videos to see how they started...

Woah that description of push and pull on our ears by the sin wave was so simple but so effective

2:01 Clutch Cargo animation

This is very pedagogical! And entertaining ;)

This channel has sure changed in last 5 years

Wow... Just found your recent stuff, now this. Well done fella. You deserve the success you have got already in 2020!

7:54 - well played, Alec. Dragging that paper along gives a very cool effect (both as its happening, and the line so produced). Was that something you had to practice, while waving your other hand back and forth, or was it easy to do? Either way, cool. :)

Nice Alec!

The fact that this is 100% analog, makes it more impressive to me, than modern devices

Love your videos, keep up the excellent work!

I had to pause at 4'40" because I begun imagining the sound of a stylus dragging through tinfoil. I CAN'T GET OVER IT

great jo you are really excellent at what u do

I just learned about these and wondered "i wonder if Tech Connect did a video on these yet?" Never disappoints