Tangible Media: Removable Storage of Image, Sound, Motion and Data
Tangible Media: Removable Storage of Image, Sound, Motion and Data
Tangible Media: Removable Storage of Image, Sound, Motion and Data
Grooves
Dictaphone

Date:

1930s–1940s

Material:

Soft black wax

Dimensions:

6 in. (15 cm) length, 2¼ in. (5.7 cm) diameter

Company:

Dictaphone Co.

Location:

London, UK

A blank cylinder for the Dictaphone dictation machine. These were longer than a standard cylinder. Dictation cylinders were made of softer wax and were thicker so they could be repeatedly shaved and reused.

The Dictaphone pictured below uses an electric motor to turn the cylinder, but the recording is purely acoustic.