This external horn is part of an Edison Fireside Phonograph made in c.1909. The horn was attached to the machine when in use. The rings on the side of the horn allowed the horn to be suspended above the machine. The narrow opening on the horn was attached to the sound outlet on the machine and the conical shape of the horn amplified the sound. The horn was suspended to allow a clear sound. This was done by attaching the ring fitted to the outside of the horn to a chain or chord, which in turn was attached to a curved wire fitted to the phonograph machine. The phonograph machine was invented by Thomas Alva Edison in the late 19th century. Edison adapted the idea used when sending messages over a telegraph machine. He patented the phonograph in early 1878. The phonograph was able to record sound and play it back sound. This amazing invention opened up a whole new world of entertainments, where wax cylinders of pre-recorded sound could be purchased with a wide variety of music and played over and over. The first wax cylinders were white and used a combination of bees' wax and animal fax or tallow. By 1892 Edison was using 'brown wax' cylinders that ranged from cream through to dark brown. The Edison Phonograph Company was formed in 1887 to produce these machines. He sold the company in 1855 to the North American Phonograph Company but bought that company in 1890. He started the Edison Spring Motor factory in 1895 and then the National Phonograph Company in 1896. In 1910 the company became Thomas A. Edison Inc. In 1898 Edison produced the Edison Standard Phonograph, the first phonograph to carry his own trade mark. He began mass producing duplicate copies of his wax cylinders in 1901 using moulds instead of engraving the cylinders. The wax was black and harder than the brown wax. The ends of the cylinders were bevelled so that the title's label could be added. The last phonograph machine to use an external horn was produced in 1912 due to the much more robust records being invented. In 1913 Edison started producing the Edison Disc Phonograph. The company stopped trading in 1929. [NOTE: a phonograph machine plays cylinders, a gramophone plays records]This Edison external phonograph horn is significant for its connection to the c.1909 Edison Fireside phonograph model. The phonograph machine brought a new era of music into the homes of everyday people but was only popular for a few decades due to the growing popularity of records, which gave a much higher quality sound and were more robust.Phonograph horn; open horn, a conical shape with the lower part flaring out. The horn's shape on the opening half is octagonal, made from eight joined sheets of metal with a scalloped finish at the opening. The narrow end is hollow and ready to fit onto a phonograph outlet. There are two rings attached together on the side of the horn, perhaps for storing on a hook. The inner surface of the horn has remnants of deep red paint. This horn is from the Edison Fireside phonograph. (There is a mark on the outside of the horn where the Edison brand would be)flagstaff hill, maritime museum, maritime village, warrnambool, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, gramophone, phonograph, music player, entertainment, audio equipment, edison, thomas a edison, horn, phonograph horn, amplifier, audio, sound recording, sound playback, phonograph machine, external horn, edison phonograph company, wax cylinders, edison spring motor factory, national phonograph company, thomas a. edison inc, phonographic cylinder, sound reproduction

The Edison Fireside Phonograph Combination Type A model phonograph was an open horn model. This machine was produced around 1909, just after the introduction of 4-minute record cylinders in 1908.; the selection lever on the front was either 4 or 2-minute choice. This Fireside model has a fluted octagonal horn that attaches to the reproducer on the machine and is suspended by on ring by a horn crane attachment. The phonograph machine is powered purely by mechanical means, winding the crank handle on the side of the machine to start the belt-driven, spring-loaded motor inside. The sound comes from a pre-recorded, vertical cut record cylinder, which slides over the Mandle, a smooth rotating drum. The reproducer, an all-in-one needle, amplifier and speaker, is lowered onto the cylinder, the needle picks up the sound and plays it on the speaker and the attached horn amplifies the sound. The phonograph machine was invented by Thomas Alva Edison in the late 19th century. Edison adopted the idea from the technology of the telegraph machine. He patented the phonograph in early 1878. It was able to record sound and play it back. This amazing invention opened up a whole new world of entertainment, where wax cylinders of pre-recorded sound could be purchased with a wide variety of music and played over and over. The first wax cylinders were white and used a combination of bees' wax and animal fax or tallow. By 1892 Edison was using 'brown wax' cylinders that ranged from cream through to dark brown. The Edison Phonograph Company was formed in 1887 to produce these machines. He sold the company in 1855 to the North American Phonograph Company but bought that company in 1890. He then started the Edison Spring Motor factory in 1895, and the National Phonograph Company in 1896. In 1910 the company became Thomas A. Edison Inc. In 1898 Edison produced the Edison Standard Phonograph, the first phonograph to carry his own trade mark. He began mass producing duplicate copies of his wax cylinders in 1901 using moulds instead of engraving the cylinders. The wax was black and harder than the brown wax. The ends of the cylinders were bevelled so that the title's label could be added. The last phonograph machine to use an external open horn was produced in 1912 due to the much more robust round records being invented. In 1913 Edison started producing the Edison Disc Phonograph. The company stopped trading in 1929.This Edison Fireside Phonograph model is significant for being one of the last models to have an external horn. It is also significant for its connection with the invention of the phonograph, which made music and sound available for domestic enjoyment. It was used for entertainment and education, even teaching languages. It signalled a new era of music that could be reproduced and played anywhere. It is also significant for its short time span of popularity, just a few decades, due to the growing use of records, which gave a much higher quality sound and were more robust.Phonograph; Edison Fireside Phonograph, Combination Type, Model A. It is in a wooden case with a domed lid, metal catches on each side and a folding wooden handle. It has a metal drum and a reproducer mechanism. The metal and wood crank handle starts the machine’s motor. A sliding lever at the front selects the speed for four- or two-minute cylinders. The inscribed plate has the maker, serial number, patents and other information. The reproducer also has an inscription. It has a curved metal open horn attachment. Made in Orange, New Jersey in c.1909. NOTE: the fluted octagonal horn is catalogued separately.Case front, in script, Edison’s early ‘banner’ decal “Edison” On the front of the machine “Thomas A Edison TRADE MARK” On the maker’s plate; "Edison Fireside Phonograph Combination Type" Serial number “14718” Around sound outlet; “C 4076” “REPRODUCER LICENCED FOR USE ONLY ON EDISON PHOTOGRAPHS SOLD BYT.A. EDISON INC.” At the front edge “4 MINUTES 2flagstaff hill, maritime museum, maritime village, warrnambool, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, gramophone, phonograph, music player, entertainment, audio equipment, edison, thomas a edison, horn, phonograph horn, amplifier, audio, sound recording, sound playback, phonograph machine, phonograph cylinder, external horn, edison phonograph company, wax cylinders, sound reproduction, edison spring motor factory, national phonograph company, thomas a. edison inc, crank-operated motor, open horn phonograph, 4 speed, 2 speed

Edison Records was one of the early record labels that pioneered sound recording and reproduction, and was an important player in the early recording industry. The first phonograph cylinders were manufactured in 1888, followed by Edison's foundation of the Edison Phonograph Company in the same year. The recorded wax cylinders, later replaced by Blue Amberol cylinders, and vertical-cut Diamond Discs, were manufactured by Edison's National Phonograph Company from 1896 on, reorganized as Thomas A. Edison, Inc. in 1911. Until 1910 the recordings did not carry the names of the artists. The company began to lag behind its rivals in the 1920s, both technically and in the popularity of its artists, and halted production of recordings in 1929. Thomas A. Edison invented the phonograph, the first device for recording and playing back sound, in 1877. After patenting the invention and benefiting from the publicity and acclaim it received, Edison and his laboratory turned their attention to the commercial development of electric lighting, playing no further role in the development of the phonograph for nearly a decade. Start of the Recording Industry: In 1887, Edison turned his attention back to improving the phonograph and the phonograph cylinder. The following year, the Edison company introduced the ”Perfected Phonograph”. Edison introduced wax cylinders approximately 4+1⁄4 inches (11 cm) long and 2+1⁄4 inches (5.7 cm) in external diameter, which became the industry standard. They had a maximum playing time of about 3 minutes at 120 RPM, but around the turn of the century the standard speed was increased to (first 144) and then 160 RPM to improve clarity and volume, reducing the maximum to about 2 minutes and 15 seconds. Several experimental wax cylinder recordings of music and speech made in 1888 still exist. The wax entertainment cylinder made its commercial debut in 1889 at first, the only customers were entrepreneurs who installed nickel-in-the-slot phonographs in amusement arcades, saloons and other public places. At that time, a phonograph cost the equivalent of several months' wages for the average worker and was driven by an electric motor powered by hazardous, high-maintenance wet cell batteries. After more affordable spring-motor-driven phonographs designed for home use were introduced in 1895, the industry of producing recorded entertainment cylinders for sale to the general public began in earnest. Blank records were an important part of the business early on. Most phonographs had or could be fitted with attachments for the users to make their own recordings. One important early use, in line with the original term for a phonograph as a "talking machine", was in business for recording dictation. Attachments were added to facilitate starting, stopping, and skipping back the recording for dictation and playback by stenographers. The business phonograph eventually evolved into a separate device from the home entertainment phonograph. Edison's brand of business phonograph was called the Ediphone. The collection of three phonograph cylinders are an example of early recorded music use for domestic entertainment. They are significant as they represent the beginnings of the modern recording industry.Cardboard tube-shaped gramophone cylinder box with lid. The printed label on the outside of the box advertises the maker and patent details. The Catalogue Number and Title are either printed or hand written on the cylinder’s lid. This cylinder contained Record no. 49, “B & H Jack” and was made at the Edison Laboratory USA. C. 1905On lid “Edison Record No. 49”, written in pencil “B & H Jack” (it looks like this) On cylinder “EDISON GOLD MOULDED RECORDS ECHO ALL OVER THE WORLD” Patents listed for 1904 & 1905warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, gramophone record, gramophone cylinder, edison cylinder, edison record, home entertainment, music recording, edison laboratory orange nj, usa, national phonograph company of australia ltd sydney, thomas a. edison

Edison Records was one of the early record labels that pioneered sound recording and reproduction, and was an important player in the early recording industry. The first phonograph cylinders were manufactured in 1888, followed by Edison's foundation of the Edison Phonograph Company in the same year. The recorded wax cylinders, later replaced by Blue Amberol cylinders, and vertical-cut Diamond Discs, were manufactured by Edison's National Phonograph Company from 1896 on, reorganized as Thomas A. Edison, Inc. in 1911. Until 1910 the recordings did not carry the names of the artists. The company began to lag behind its rivals in the 1920s, both technically and in the popularity of its artists, and halted production of recordings in 1929. Thomas A. Edison invented the phonograph, the first device for recording and playing back sound, in 1877. After patenting the invention and benefiting from the publicity and acclaim it received, Edison and his laboratory turned their attention to the commercial development of electric lighting, playing no further role in the development of the phonograph for nearly a decade. Start of the Recording Industry: In 1887, Edison turned his attention back to improving the phonograph and the phonograph cylinder. The following year, the Edison company introduced the ”Perfected Phonograph”. Edison introduced wax cylinders approximately 4+1⁄4 inches (11 cm) long and 2+1⁄4 inches (5.7 cm) in external diameter, which became the industry standard. They had a maximum playing time of about 3 minutes at 120 RPM, but around the turn of the century the standard speed was increased to (first 144) and then 160 RPM to improve clarity and volume, reducing the maximum to about 2 minutes and 15 seconds. Several experimental wax cylinder recordings of music and speech made in 1888 still exist. The wax entertainment cylinder made its commercial debut in 1889 at first, the only customers were entrepreneurs who installed nickel-in-the-slot phonographs in amusement arcades, saloons and other public places. At that time, a phonograph cost the equivalent of several months' wages for the average worker and was driven by an electric motor powered by hazardous, high-maintenance wet cell batteries. After more affordable spring-motor-driven phonographs designed for home use were introduced in 1895, the industry of producing recorded entertainment cylinders for sale to the general public began in earnest. Blank records were an important part of the business early on. Most phonographs had or could be fitted with attachments for the users to make their own recordings. One important early use, in line with the original term for a phonograph as a "talking machine", was in business for recording dictation. Attachments were added to facilitate starting, stopping, and skipping back the recording for dictation and playback by stenographers. The business phonograph eventually evolved into a separate device from the home entertainment phonograph. Edison's brand of business phonograph was called the Ediphone. The collection of three phonograph cylinders are an example of early recorded music use for domestic entertainment. They are significant as they represent the beginnings of the modern recording industry.Cardboard tube-shaped gramophone cylinder box with lid. The printed label on the outside of the box advertises the maker and patent details. The Catalogue Number and Title are either printed or hand written on the cylinder’s lid. This cylinder contained Record no. 13619, the recording “Poor old England” published by Castling and Godfrey, sung by Billy Williams. Made by National Phonograph Company USA. C.1907On lid “Edison Record” and “This record should turn at 160 revolutions per minute, no faster” Written on lid in blue pen “Trumpet”, “EDISON AMBEROL RECORD / FOUR MINUTE”warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, gramophone record, gramophone cylinder, edison cylinder, edison record, home entertainment, music recording, edison laboratory orange nj, usa, national phonograph company of australia ltd sydney, thomas a. edison

Edison Records was one of the early record labels that pioneered sound recording and reproduction, and was an important player in the early recording industry. The first phonograph cylinders were manufactured in 1888, followed by Edison's foundation of the Edison Phonograph Company in the same year. The recorded wax cylinders, later replaced by Blue Amberol cylinders, and vertical-cut Diamond Discs, were manufactured by Edison's National Phonograph Company from 1896 on, reorganized as Thomas A. Edison, Inc. in 1911. Until 1910 the recordings did not carry the names of the artists. The company began to lag behind its rivals in the 1920s, both technically and in the popularity of its artists, and halted production of recordings in 1929. Thomas A. Edison invented the phonograph, the first device for recording and playing back sound, in 1877. After patenting the invention and benefiting from the publicity and acclaim it received, Edison and his laboratory turned their attention to the commercial development of electric lighting, playing no further role in the development of the phonograph for nearly a decade. Start of the Recording Industry: In 1887, Edison turned his attention back to improving the phonograph and the phonograph cylinder. The following year, the Edison company introduced the ”Perfected Phonograph”. Edison introduced wax cylinders approximately 4+1⁄4 inches (11 cm) long and 2+1⁄4 inches (5.7 cm) in external diameter, which became the industry standard. They had a maximum playing time of about 3 minutes at 120 RPM, but around the turn of the century the standard speed was increased to (first 144) and then 160 RPM to improve clarity and volume, reducing the maximum to about 2 minutes and 15 seconds. Several experimental wax cylinder recordings of music and speech made in 1888 still exist. The wax entertainment cylinder made its commercial debut in 1889 at first, the only customers were entrepreneurs who installed nickel-in-the-slot phonographs in amusement arcades, saloons and other public places. At that time, a phonograph cost the equivalent of several months' wages for the average worker and was driven by an electric motor powered by hazardous, high-maintenance wet cell batteries. After more affordable spring-motor-driven phonographs designed for home use were introduced in 1895, the industry of producing recorded entertainment cylinders for sale to the general public began in earnest. Blank records were an important part of the business early on. Most phonographs had or could be fitted with attachments for the users to make their own recordings. One important early use, in line with the original term for a phonograph as a "talking machine", was in business for recording dictation. Attachments were added to facilitate starting, stopping, and skipping back the recording for dictation and playback by stenographers. The business phonograph eventually evolved into a separate device from the home entertainment phonograph. Edison's brand of business phonograph was called the Ediphone. The collection of three phonograph cylinders are an example of early recorded music use for domestic entertainment. They are significant as they represent the beginnings of the modern recording industry.Cardboard tube-shaped gramophone cylinder box with lid. The printed label on the outside of the box advertises the maker and patent details. The Catalogue Number and Title are either printed or hand written on the cylinder’s lid. This cylinder was made by Edison 1908 and contains Record number 53 by Sandy McNab. c. 1908On label “Edison Record No. 53, Sandy McNab" and "Form no. 1130, April 1908. Patented December 6 1904, No. 2109, and December 6 1904 No. 2110. “This record is sold by the National Phonograph Company of Australia Ltd, at Sydney Australia.” Trade Mark Thomas A. Edison warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, gramophone record, gramophone cylinder, edison cylinder, edison record, home entertainment, music recording, edison laboratory orange nj, usa, national phonograph company of australia ltd sydney, thomas a. edison

Thomas Edison was one of the world’s most prolific inventors, holding over 2,000 different patents. One of his earliest inventions was the phonograph. The Edison Phonograph Company was formed on October 8, 1887, to market Edison's machine. The original machine went through many modifications. The Patent information on this machine indicates that it was manufactured after May 1906. Sound was recorded on wax cylinders. Edison cylinders were the earliest commercial medium for recording and reproducing sound. These hollow cylindrical objects have an audio recording engraved on the outside surface which can be reproduced when they are played on a mechanical cylinder phonograph Beginning in 1889, pre-recorded wax cylinders were marketed. They featured professionally made recordings of songs, instrumental music or humorous monologues in their grooves. The earliest cylinders were made from soft wax and later hard wax was utilised. Further developments by several companies, led to the introduction of celluloid cylinders. In late 1908, Thomas Edison had introduced wax cylinders that played for about four minutes (instead of the usual two) under the Amberol brand. The Amberols were manufactured with flat rim-ends, to prevent confusion with the earlier bevel-edged two-minute version. In 1912, the Edison company eventually acquired patents to the celluloid technology, and almost immediately started production of the new brand as Edison Blue Amberol Records. Cylinder records continued to compete with the growing disc record market into the 1910s. In 1912, Columbia Records, which had been selling both discs and cylinders, dropped the cylinder format, while Edison introduced his Diamond Disc format, played with a diamond stylus. From 1915, new Edison cylinders were re-recordings from Edison discs. Although his cylinders continued to be sold in steadily dwindling quantities, Edison continued to support the owners of cylinder phonographs by making new titles available in that format until the company ceased manufacturing all records and phonographs in November 1929.This item is significant because it is representative of early home entertainment in the late 19th and early 20th century.An Edison Home Phonograph in a wooden case. No trumpet included.On outer case' Edison On metal plate: Thomas A Edison TRADE MARK On large metal plate: Detailed inscription of Patent informationphonograph, thomas edison

Until late 1925, all record players reproduced sound by purely mechanical means and relied on a so-called "amplifying" horn to efficiently couple the vibrations of the stylus and diaphragm to the space occupied by the listeners. In 1906, the Victor Talking Machine Company, Columbia's arch competitor, introduced a line of models in which the horn and other hardware were concealed within a cabinet, made to look like fine furniture rather than a mechanical device. They named the new style a "Victrola". It quickly proved to be very popular and successful. Other makers, adopting the distinctive suffix, introduced their own "-ola" internal horn machines, such as Edison's Amberolas and Columbia's Grafonolas. They were soon outselling the external horn models. At first, like nearly all other early record players, all Grafonolas were driven by a spring motor that the user had to wind up with a crank before playing a record. In 1915, Columbia began to introduce electric-motor-driven models, as a majority of urban areas had been wired to electrical grids. The electrified Grafonolas supported both alternating and direct currents from 110 to 220 volts. Electrified Grafonolas never gained the popularity enjoyed by the spring motor-driven versions due to substantially higher prices and a lack of electrical service in rural areas. Grafonolas were manufactured under the 1886 United States Letters Patent No. 341,214 which Columbia Graphophone company acquired through its predecessor American Graphophone Company. Two models were available; a portable table model and bigger stationary floor model, offering limited mobility through the application of casters. The most notable table models included Grafonola Favorite introduced in 1911 and Grafonola Savoy introduced in 1915. The most notable floor models included Grafonola Symphony Grand introduced in 1907, Grafonola Regent introduced in 1909, Columbia Mignon introduced in 1910, Grafonola Princess introduced in 1911, Columbia Colonial introduced in 1913. Various period Grafonolas were introduced in 1917 to cater to an increasingly prosperous clientele. Columbia Phonograph Company began to manufacture a series of ornate, limited edition period machines. These were highly priced (some as high as US$2,100 ) special orders that provided consumers with options to choose styles which matched their interior décor. Although the Gramophone does not have a large monetary value, it is of social significance as it demonstrates the progress made in audio reproduction from the first Edison cylinder machines to improvements that allowed ordinary people to be able to buy music discs and enjoy music in their own homes. Gramophone with internal horn, floor model, mechanically operated by a crank handle. Colombian Grafonola Princess (Type F2) brand. Gramophone is in a wooden display cabinet with room for record storage underneath and is complete with handle. Manufactured in 1911 by Columbia, USA."Columbia Grafonola Type 2 Made in USA"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, record player, gramophone, mechanical gramophone, floor model gramophone, gramophone record, columbia graphophone company, american graphophone company, columbia, grafonola, grafonola princess, music, playing music, audio reproduction, sound equipment, domestic entertainment, 1911 gramophone

John Brunswick from Switzerland came to U.S.A. in 1845 and established a business in Ohio making carriages and billiard tables. In 1874 a merger gave the company a new name of Brunswick and Balke Company and in 1884 it became Brunswick, Balke and Collender. In the early 20th century the company made other products including phonograph records and discs and in 1930 this section of the company was sold to Warner Brothers. Today it is known as the Brunswick Corporation. The patent for these cleaning pads was taken out in 1922. Matilda (Tilly) Rowan, the daughter of Robert and Ellen Lavery was born in Warrnambool in 1872 and by 1896 was advertising her stationery shop in the Oddfellows Hall in Koroit Street. She married Thomas Rowan in 1908. She had a music shop at 143 Liebig Street with one known date, 1930, and then transferred her business to the Oddfellows Hall building which she owned. She also operated the Plaza Picture Theatre in the same building. She died in 1948.Brunswick- Balke- Collender CompanyThese are two gramophone records cleaning pads. They are circular in shape with a tin top and felt cleaning pads. One pad is brown-coloured and the other is green-coloured. The metal tops have the name of the supplier and the name of the music shop in Warrnambool that gave out or sold the pads. The tops are painted black with gold-coloured printing. The tops have ornamental scrolls on the edges. ‘Brunswick, Mrs Rowan Music House, 143 Liebig Street, Warrnambool, ‘Phone 634, Agent for New Edison Diamond Disc Phonographs and Records, The Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, Reg.U.S. Pat.Office, M de F. Marca Industrial Registrada, patented November 1922, Philadelphia Badge Co., Phila, U.S.A.’mrs tilly rowan, brunswick- balke- collender company

Each record has a number and the title of the piece. The artists' names are also mentioned and the length of time it plays. The "record should run 160 revolutions per minute - not faster or slower". .1) Blue Amberol No. 1868 - "Lasca" - F Deprez / Edgar Davenport .2) Amberol No. 999 - "Peggy Gray" - Thurland Chatterway .3) Blue Amberol No.1819 - "Just a Wee Deoch and Doris" - Harry Lauder .4) Blue Amberol No. 12206 - "Killarney" - Violet Oppenshaw. (There is no lid for this record.) .5) Amberol No. 863 - "Winter" / "March Song" - Billy Murray and Chorus .6) Amberol No. 12347 - "By the Sea" - Stanley Kirkby 6 Record cylinders, each in a cardboard cylindrical case.Title of record with its number on the lid of the case. Title stamped on the end face of cylinder. Detailed Copyright information - 1900 by the National Phonograph Co., Orange, New Jersey, U.S.A.amberol, thomas edison, cylinder records, national phonograph company, blue amberol

This clock was manufactured by American clock company Ansonia in the late 19th - early twentieth century. Ansonia Clock was one of the major 19th century American clock manufacturers, producing millions of clocks between its incorporation in Connecticut in 1850, and its closure in 1929. In 1877 production moved from Connecticut to New York City, where inventor Thomas Edison visited the factory to experiment in combining clocks with his newly invented phonograph (an early form of gramophone). This clock is significant for its rarity due to age. A gothic style steeple wooden clock with gold and white embellishments, and Roman numeral numbering on the clock face. The interior of the clock is accessed by a hinged glass door. Under pendulum inside glass interior case: "ANSONIA CLOCK COMPANY/U.S."clock, america, american, ansonia, the ansonia clock company

Edison cylinders were the earliest commercial medium for recording and reproducing sound. These hollow cylindrical objects have an audio recording engraved on the outside surface which can be reproduced when they are played on a mechanical cylinder phonograph. Beginning in 1889, pre-recorded wax cylinders were marketed. These have professionally made recordings of songs, instrumental music or humorous monologues in their grooves. The earliest cylinders were made from soft wax and later hard wax was utilised. Further developments by several companies, led to the introduction of celluloid cylinders. In late 1908, Thomas Edison had introduced wax cylinders that played for about four minutes (instead of the usual two) under the Amberol brand. The Amberols were manufactured with flat rim-ends, to prevent confusion with the earlier bevel-edged two-minute version. In 1912, the Edison company eventually acquired patents to the celluloid technology, and almost immediately started production under new brand as Edison Blue Amberol Records. Cylinder records continued to compete with the growing disc record market into the 1910s. In 1912, Columbia Records, which had been selling both discs and cylinders, dropped the cylinder format, while Edison introduced his Diamond Disc format, played with a diamond stylus. From 1915, new Edison cylinders were re-recordings from Edison discs. Although his cylinders continued to be sold in steadily dwindling quantities, Edison continued to support the owners of cylinder phonographs by making new titles available in that format until the company ceased manufacturing all records and phonographs in November 1929.This item is significant because it is representative of home entertainment in the late 19th and early 20th century.Two phonograph cylinders in cardboard boxes. The first cylinder is an earlier 2 minute Edison Gold Moulded Record with Issue Number 9184. It features a recording of "Paddle your own Canoe" by Arthur F. Collins and Byron G. Harlan and was released in January 1906. The second cylinder is a 4 minute Edison Amberol Record (NO. 647) featuring the Levy-Athan Polka performed by Charles Daab on xylophone and accompanied by an orchestra. It was released in February 1911. The case is cylindrical in shape and made of cardboard. It is coloured green, white, and black on the outside, while the base is not coloured. The tube is open at the top, and sealed at the base. Inside the tube is a white fabric lining. The top section of the outside of the tube is dark green. Below this is an outer sleeve. The outer sleeve has a half white, half green background with a black stripe, with gold outline, running horizontally around the top and bottom. The words "Thomas A. Edison" are printed in green cursive along the band. In the centre of the sleeve is the text " EDISON AMBEROL RECORD FOUR MINUTE" in green ink. To the left of that text is a green-toned image of Thomas Edison in an ornate, gold border. This is surrounded by the words “Copyright 1900 by the National Phonograph Co. Orange N.J. U.S.A". To the right of the text is a rectangular text box with a black border, which contains patent information in green text. edison phonograph, home entertainment, music early 20th century