The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

“On This Day in the History of Recorded Sound…”

October 29, 1929: Arthur Walsh, Vice President of the Edison Radio-Phonograph Division announced to the trade that, “After a careful weighing of the record business and its prospects, we have decided to discontinue the production of records… This step is being taken regretfully because the phonograph for home entertainment was one of Mr. Edison’s favorite inventions.”

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I believe that Edison could see record sales dropping for ALL companies during the incoming Depression.And radio also factoring in.edisonplayer.

I remember reading in The Fabulous Phonograph that there was some suspicion as to what, if any, decision the elderly Thomas Edison had in the discontinuity of the production of records. Could it be that Edison really had no say in this decision?

And the letter is dated just in the middle of the financial disaster Isn't it? Did they know or guess what was coming?

Inigo wrote: Wed Oct 30, 2024 1:56 am And the letter is dated just in the middle of the financial disaster Isn't it? Did they know or guess what was coming?

Given the optimism for their radio business, I would say not.

Inigo wrote: Wed Oct 30, 2024 1:56 am And the letter is dated just in the middle of the financial disaster Isn't it? Did they know or guess what was coming?

The stock market crash occurred just a few days earlier in the week (October 24th), so I’m guessing that Edison’s decision had already been made, even if it was announced after the crash. (Plus, that was only the first event of the downturn.)

The bigger issue is probably that Diamond Disks weren’t compatible with most other machines, and other record companies had snapped up all of the artists people really wanted to hear. A&R seems to have been a huge blind spot for Edison.

Literally a deaf spot for Edison. I have always assumed he was a tired old man in 1929. And he only lived two more years.