RECORD
Date1917
Geography
Prince Edward Island, Canada
DimensionsA: 11 x 5 x 5 cm
B: 11 x 5 x 5 cm
Object numberHF.2014.10.05 A-B
DescriptionAn unused purple Ambrerol celluloid roll (A), horizontal ribbing on the inside of the tube. The tube is plaster covered. The paper label (B) covers a cardboard tube with printed black text and imagery. Narrative
From 1917 to 1921, Thomas Edison used the Edison Royal Purple Amberol Records as a sub-label for a number of cylinder recordings. These cylinders replaced the usual blue color of Edison cylinders with a distinctive royal purple hue. The Amberol records were marketed as a series of higher-end recordings, featuring operatic and classical selections. In 1908, Edison’s ‘Amberol’ cylinder increased the record’s capacity from 2 minutes to 4 minutes. Additionally, celluloid, an early type of plastic, revolutionized cylinder design, preventing cracking and shattering. The cylinders were meant to be played on a phonograph.
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