----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Richard L. Hess" <[log in to unmask]>
> I was helping my older son (the budding musician) with a school project 
> and I tried to find a good timeline of audio recording media for CONSUMER 
> DELIVERY and I realized that it is more difficult to create than it 
> initially appears.
> What I really would like to see are date ranges for
> Development (which can involve limited commercialization)
> Major Factor
> Dominant Format
> Decline of Format
> Niche application of Format
> End of Format
> Not all formats would have all dates.
> I see this ultimately as a coloured bar chart with hotter colours as it is 
> used more.
>
> I would like to address (at least) the following formats. I have Developed 
> and Ended dates for all of them (any corrections would be appreciated). I 
> use 2025 to mean "ongoing" as it makes the math easier and these will run 
> off the right side of the chart.
>
> Here is what I'm hoping for (and these are guesstimates). Note that all 
> dates are not required for each format. See the LP for a completely filled 
> sequence.
>
> Should I start with sheet music? ? ?
>
> Cylinder Developed 1877 Ended 1931
Divide this in two...
Tin foil recording (Edison): Developed 1877-78 but proved impractical;
Wax cylinder developed by Tainter & Bell 1884, but first used by Edison
1889-90 for commercial sale.
>
> Acoustical 78s Developed 1897 Ended 1931
Actually, developed 1889 and sold as toys; first sold by Berliner in 
1892;"died"
in April, 1930 when Columbia quit cutting acoustic Harmony (usw.) discs.
> Electrical 78s Developed 1924 Ended 1962
The latest date I have seen on a commercial, US-available "78" was 1966;
however, various later (non-shellac!) 78's are still being issued 
(irregularly).
From here on, I can't comment...don't have the knowledge...?!
> **Long Play 33 Developed 1948 Major 1952 Dominant 1955 Decline 1980 Niche 
> 1990 Ended 2025


Steven C. Barr