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first transcontinental telegraph line
Western Union completes the first transcontinental telegraph line -- providing coast-to-coast communications during the U.S. Civil War. -
Phonograph invented
Edison invents the cylinder "phonograph" used to record and playback sound. Originally thought to be useful as a business machine for dictation (like the dictaphone which would come later.) Other uses: recordings of plays pre-dating Radio Drama nearly 50 years. -
Microphone Invented
Emile Berliner invents the first microphone and sells the rights to Bell Telephone. -
Emile Berliner invents the flat record player
Emile Berliner invents the flat record player ("gramophone") using acoustic horn and licenses technology to record companies who make "70-rpm" disks. -
Louis Glass invents the modern jukebox
Louis Glass invents the modern jukebox (coin-operated phonograph) and installs it at the "Palais Royal" saloon in San Francisco where it is an immediate hit. -
12"Diameter Records
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Diode Thermionic Valve
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Clockwork Gramophone Motors
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Linear Speed Recording
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Electric Recording
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Vitaphone introduces a sound system
-Vitaphone introduces a sound system to synchronize music and sound effects with a motion picture; It uses a 16-inch disc turntable that is connected to the projector. Operators have to continuously adjust the synchronization of the grooves to the picture, which was not perfect. -
Bell Laboratories develops a 33 1/3 rpm disk system
Bell Laboratories develops a 33 1/3 rpm disk system to synchronize a music track for the Warner Brothers film "Don Juan" containing music composed by William Axt. This system is similar to the Vitaphone system. -
RCA convinces phonograph labels
RCA convinces phonograph labels including its own Victor label as well as Columbia and other manufacturers to standardize on 78.26 rpm as the speed of all phonograph records. Previous disk recording speeds might vary anywhere up to 80rpm in the U.S. and even as high as 90rpm in England. -
ceases the manufacturing of sound recordings.
The Edison Co. ceases the manufacturing of sound recordings. -
The Duke Ellington recording of "It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing"
The Duke Ellington recording of "It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing" starts the "swing music" dance craze. -
-An experimental "binaural" phonograph system is created by Bell laboratories
An experimental "binaural" phonograph system is created by Bell laboratories. The two channels of sound were on separate grooves of a 78rpm vinyl record, requiring a special stylus mechanism to play both channels simultaneously; The system, which also required dual-channel amplifiers and additional speakers, was expensive and was not marketed commercially. -
first magnetic tape recorder in Germany.
AEG/Telefunken exhibits the first magnetic tape recorder in Germany. -
first chart of top-selling records.
Billboard magazine publishes its first chart of top-selling records. -
Regular FM Radio broadcasting begins
Regular FM Radio broadcasting begins in New York City. -
James Petrillo's American Federation of Musicians (AF of M) Union begins a "recording ban"
James Petrillo's American Federation of Musicians (AF of M) Union begins a "recording ban" from Aug., 1942 - Nov., 1944 to force record companies to pay royalties, which starts the decline of the big-band era in favor of vocal groups and "crooner" vocalists -
First portable audiotape recorder
Though many other cassette tapes and tape recorders were already made the first portable one was made in 1951 http://www.brucesallan.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/old-cassette-tape-recorder.jpg http://www.classicthemes.com/technologyTimeline.html http://www.classicthemes.com/technologyTimeline.html -
First Transistor Radio sold
They first started selling transistors for $49.99 http://www.classicthemes.com/technologyTimeline.html http://www.oldradio.tv/images/transistor-radio-1950.jpg -
Multi-Track Tape Recorder
Les Paul 8-Track Tape Recorder http://www.classicthemes.com/technologyTimeline.html -
cassestte tapes start to be sold
Cassette tapes are distributed by RCA for $1 more than vinyl album. http://www.classicthemes.com/technologyTimeline.html -
FM Stereo Radio Starts
FM radio begins broadcasting and slowly gains popularity http://www.classicthemes.com/technologyTimeline.html -
First intro of Surround Sound
The concept of surround sound was made and produced but caused consumer confusion http://www.classicthemes.com/technologyTimeline.html http://www.techfresh.net/wp-content/uploads/2006/08/pioneer-htp-gs1-xbox-360-surround-sound-system.jpg -
Video Cassette Tape Recorder
Sony U-matic Proffesional Recorder made and produced http://www.classicthemes.com/technologyTimeline.html -
First solid-state video recorder
First solid state video recorder produced by Bell ind. http://www.classicthemes.com/technologyTimeline.html http://www.newdaypictures.com/images/SONY_HVR_Z7E.gif -
The Video Casstette is Ceated
Invented by Charles B.Grinburg http://inventors.about.com/od/timelines/a/modern_3.htm -
Formats VHS
Video tape in a large cassette format introduced by both JVC and Panasonic in the year of. http://inventors.about.com/od/timelines/a/modern_3.htm -
Ethernet
Local Computer Network. http://inventors.about.com/od/timelines/a/modern_3.htm -
Invention Of the Dolby Casette Tape
The Dolby A, C, and the short lived Dolby S were a revolution in portable music. Both were made by the Sony Company. http://inventors.about.com/od/timelines/a/modern_3.htm -
Invention of the Floppy Disk
Invented by Allan Shugart in 1952 first sold in 1976 by Sony. http://inventors.about.com/od/timelines/a/modern_3.htm -
Ink Jet Printers
First introduced in 1953 then sold in mass in 1977. http://inventors.about.com/od/timelines/a/modern_3.htm -
The FCC Requires Cable TV systems
Over 3,500 Cable Subscribers in 1980. http://inventors.about.com/od/timelines/a/modern_3.htm