The Tinfoil Phonograph

1st Friday - December 6th at 2:30 p.m.
1878 Edison Tinfoil Recording Unveiled

During the summer of 2012, the Museum of Innovation and Science (miSci) in Schenectady, NY recovered the sound from a tinfoil recording in partnership with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Save America’s Treasures. The tinfoil, which was originally recorded in June 1878, is believed to be the oldest playable American sound recording. Learn about the process of recovering the sound, as well as the story behind the voice on the tinfoil from miSci curator Chris Hunter.

Founded in 1934, miSci’s archives include an extensive GE photograph collection, with more than 1.6 million prints and negatives; an archival collection with more than 3,500 cubic feet of historic materials; and more than 15,000 objects relating to the history of science and technology. miSci’s archives houses this 1878 Edison tinfoil, the second oldest documented Edison tinfoil recording, the oldest playable American voice. For further information visit miSci’s tinfoil page: http://websnap08.lbl.gov/Tinfoil.html

 

2nd Saturday - December 14th at 10:00 a.m. (especially for children)
Make a Tin Foil Recording

Join a park ranger and learn about sound waves and how to record sound. Afterwards there will be a recording session with a tinfoil phonograph.

3rd Thursday - December 19th at 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED
Evening tours at Glenmont

Edison’s 1877 invention of the tinfoil phonograph, the first machine that could record and reproduce sound, astonished the world and made him an international celebrity. Take a tour of the “celebrity’s” home and see his personal tinfoil phonograph.

Call 973-736-0550 ext. 89 to reserve your spot today.

Last updated: December 1, 2013

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

211 Main Street
West Orange, NJ 07052

Phone:

973-736-0550 x11
Phones are monitored as staff are available with messages being checked Wednesday - Sunday. If a ranger is unavailable to take your call, we kindly ask that you leave us a detailed message with return contact information and we will be happy to get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you.

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