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
Neophone

Artist:

Dr. Michaelis (inventor)

Date:

c. 1904

Material:

Early plastic (celluloid?) on pasteboard, paper label

Dimensions:

12 in. (30 cm)

Company:

Neophone

Location:

London, England

Flexible and advertised as "indestructable." The first vertical-cut disc (as opposed to vertical cut cylinders). The title is engraved on the record surface outside of the label, but I haven't been able to decipher it.

"Dr. Michaelis would assemble a group of potential buyers at the top of a four-storeyed building… and demonstrate by throwing a record out of the open window to the street below. A boy then dashed down the stairs and retrieved the record." (Joe Batten, quoted at 78rpmrecord.com.)

Unfortunately, while unbreakable, the records tended to curl up in store windows in the sun. There was also a 20 in. (50 cm) version that may have inspired Pathé to come out with the 50 cm Concert disc.

12 in. (30 cm) flexible Neophone record, white with paper label
Closeup of label (