Oldest Edison wax cylinder Phonograph.

[edisonphonoworks]

I do not think I shared this before. This is a prototype Edison Phonograph made in 1887. I am pretty sure this is the Ezra Gilliland model. This machine is at Thomas Edison Historical Park in West Orange N.J. The cylinder that is on the mandrel in the photo,is a replica I made. There is about 22 original non metallic soap cylinders in the museum, and naturally could not be just put on the mandrel for display, due to light and dust. I made the cylinder that is displayed on this machine, it is made form Jonas Aylsworth's notebook. There over 1058 different formulas for cylinders in the notebook, I tried a few from deduction and this one, made of ceresine, stearic acid, and carnauba wax seemed most like the originals. Photo credit by Gerald Fabris.