Title: | Coming Through the Rye, Cornet Solo |
Artist: | Adam Schirra |
Date: | 1896 |
Material: | Shellac |
Dimensions: | 7 in. (18 cm) |
Company: | United States Gramophone Co. |
Location: | Washington, D. C., United States |
An early example of the disc record invented by Emile Berliner. In a purely acoustic recording process, sound traveled down a horn to vibrate a diaphragm and needle, which inscribed the master disc. The master was etched and electroplated, then used to create the stampers, which pressed the final shellac discs. The record was recorded on one side only. 7" Berliners varied from 60–75 rpm—the advertised speed was "about 70 rpm". Incidently, the performer on this disc, A. (Adam) Schirra, was the grandfather of astronaut Wally Schirra.
Berliner was plagued by illegal copies of his invention. A patent fight led him to pass his patents on to an entity that eventually became the Victor Talking Machine Company, which in turn became RCA Victor. It was Berliner who spotted an English painting of a dog listening to a gramophone titled His Masters's Voice, which he trademarked and passed on to the Victor Company.