Edison's 1877 Tin-Foil Phonograph

Axel Boilesen is pictured here holding an exact replica of Thomas Alva Edison's tin-foil Phonograph (beautifully made by Bill Ptacek).

Based on a sketch that Edison had given to Charles Batchelor and John Kruesi the completed talking machine was presented to Edison on December 6th, 1877 after three days of development. On December 6th Batchelor noted in his diary "Krusei finished the Phonograph".

This "finished" date is accordingly celebrated by Friends of the Phonograph as the birthday of the Phonograph and as the day when Edison reportedly spoke and heard his first words "Mary had a little lamb" repeated back to him by this new wonder.

TOUCH HERE to download and listen to Edison's "Mary had a Little Lamb."

Edison was always enthusiastic about his inventions but the Phonograph was special to him.

During the first half of 1878 he proudly promoted the Phonograph which included a visit to the White House for a personal demonstration to President Rutherford B. Hayes and his family on April 18, 1878 (exactly 45 years before Axel was born).