Neophone Co
Neophone was a short-lived British company that produced a novel form of audio recording.
c.1903 Company established, apparently the first company to issue vertical-cut audio records. The inventor of the "indestructible" Neophone record was a German, Dr. Michaelis.
The playing surface was of white "enamel" backed with thick pasteboard with a paper reverse side carrying a larger version of the label. The labels (white on wedgwood blue) were presumably all identical as they carry no title or artist details. These are engraved in script inside the last recorded groove. They start from the outside, and turn at a similar speed to normal records of the period. The groove was wide and shallow.
Neophone issued discs in a large variety of formats and types. They varied in size from 9 inches to a 20 inch disc which played for 10 minutes per side. They were also issued in a more conventional black material called Neolite. A 10 inch fine-grooved disc was made which played for 12 minutes per side. They opened offices and apparently recorded in many cities worldwide. It is likely that Neophone's apparent success influenced Pathe in bringing out its very similar disc format around 1906.
1905 Patent by Percival James Packman, W. Michaelis and Neophone Ltd for an "Attachment for Recording applicable for Disc Sound Reproducing Machines."
1905 The assets of the Neophone Company Limited were transferred to Neophone (1905) Limited and the Neophone Company Limited was wound up voluntarily[1]
1907 Neophone was acquired by the General Phonograph Co. Ltd in 1907 and wound up its affairs in 1908
1907 The Company could not continue in business, by reason of its liabilities, so was wound up voluntarily[2]
There were also Neophone companies in other countries but they seem to have been wound up about the same time.
From the Neophone Company emerged Crystalate records, ultimately merged into the Decca Company
See Also
Sources of Information
- [1] Science Museum