Record Material – Mixtures of shellac and vinyl started to be introduced as early as the 1930s, but early results were met with mixed feelings.Musicians could now record music onto a microphone that could then mass produce records. In 1925, electric recordings became possible. The reverberations would vibrate a stylus and create one shellac record at a time. Electric Recording in 1925 – Acoustic recording was a slow process where singers or musicians would play into a large horn.Whaaat!ĭuring this time, new materials developed, and recording processes advanced. These new records could hold a mind-boggling twenty minutes per side. It wasn’t until Columbia Records released a 12-inch 33rpm vinyl LP (or Long Play) in 1948 that there was another option. Back then, people didn’t call them 78 records they just called them records. (*Most records were 10- or 12- inch rarely would you find the larger 14-, 16-, and 21-inch records.) Reign of Fifty Yearsįor almost fifty years, 78s were the go-to record speed. The length of each record was barely able to fit an entire song, and some songs had to be finished by flipping the record to the other side. A 3600rpm motor running with a standard 46-tooth gear, do the math and you get roughly 78 revolutions per minute. This is due to the modern engines at the time that would create these discs. The Magic Numberħ8rpm records quickly popularized and became the “standard rate” by 1910. A lot happened over that time period, and it all began in 1901 with the first ten-inch shellac record, spun at 78 revolutions per minute. They’re easily breakable.ĭespite this one fatal flaw, shellac was the main material source until vinyl came around in the 1940s. Although, there’s one downside to shellac. Shellac is easier to scratch than metal, and it resists moisture, making it an ideal candidate for music records. This resin can be scraped off, dissolved in alcohol, and reformed into liquid shellac. Lac bugs, or kerria lacca, are scaly bugs that secrete lac onto trees.

Plastic wouldn’t be invented for another seven years, in 1907, and scientists were getting creative.Įnter, the female lac bug. Shellac: The Natural PlasticĪround the turn of the century, record companies (or soon-to-be record companies) were trying to design the perfect material to produce these new sound recordings on. These discs were initially made of glass and were later switched to zinc and eventually plastic. About ten years later in 1887, Emile Berliner improved upon the technology by creating recordings on flat discs, using his patented gramophone. The cylinder used to record this at the time was large and inefficient. With his first model ready to launch, he recorded himself, saying, “Mary had a little lamb.” Thus, these were the first words ever recorded on the phonograph. Their precursor was the phonograph, invented by Thomas Edison in 1877. Records were the second generation of voice recording technology.

2008 – The vinyl revolution begins as record sales increase.

1984 – Cassette tapes surpass vinyl records in sales.

1963 – Cassette tapes are introduced into markets.Consumers now have three standard speed options. 1948 – 33rpm LPs are released by Columbia Records made of vinyl.1925 – Electrical recording takes over acoustic recording.1910 – 78rpm becomes the standardized speed for all records.1901 – 10-inch 78rpm disc record is made from shellac.1887 – Emile Berliner developed a method to record onto a flat disc.1878 – Music is recorded onto a cylindrical record for the first time.1877 – Thomas Edison modeled the first phonograph and recorded his voice.To give you an idea of how each of these records came into being, here’s a timeline of the major events. But the question remains: What is the difference between these speeds? And why were they chosen in the first place? To answer these questions, we’ll have to take a little dive into history. Most high-quality lp players & record players will come equipped to turn at these three standard speeds. These numbers refer to the rate at which the record spins on the record player, measured in revolutions per minute (rpm). One, in particular, has to do with three numbers: 33, 45, and 78. Now, as record sales are skyrocketing, the age-old questions are resurfacing. And before vinyl, there were only shellac records. LPs, for example, didn’t enter the lexicon until 1948. These are all words that describe the same thing.

33 vinyl records