The phonograph, invented in 1877, was the first invention to bring Edison worldwide fame. At the time, he was 30 years old and nearly deaf. In later years when asked about the phonograph, Edison would say, "Of all my inventions, I liked the phonograph best."
Click here to view Thomas Edison’s 1,093 patent applications.
The Edison Phonograph shown above is an exact replica of Edison's first phonograph with the exception of a slight modification made for its us in General Motors Corporation's educational outreach programs on technology. It was made from patterns and blueprints borrowed by General Motors from the Laboratory of Thomas A. Edison. The modification is the addition of a slot milled across the cylinder to permit securing the lead foil "record" to the cylinder by means of a spring clip instead of using shellac as Mr. Edison did.
The lead foil "record" is four-thousandths of an inch thick. To record, the recording sound box is moved towards the cylinder so that the stylus makes approximately one thousandth of an inch indentation into the lead foil. Coupling a speaking tube to the sound box and speaking into it while turning the cylinder records the voice. To play back the recording, the recording sound box is backed away from the cylinder, and the cylinder is turned back to its original starting position.
Click on the phonograph replica above to hear the first words recorded by Thomas Edison.