Break out your turntable and put on your favorite record - it’s National Vinyl Record Day! This day was founded to commemorate the day that Thomas Edison invented the phonograph in 1877. While vinyl records ostensibly left the mainstream music scene in the early 1990s, they are still quite popular with audiophiles today who maintain that the sound quality and character of vinyl records is unmatched by any subsequent technology. Major contemporary artists like Taylor Swift, Adele, and Billie Eilish still release their albums in collectible vinyl editions.
Over at NUMU, we’ll celebrate National Vinyl Record Day by highlighting this gorgeous Victor V phonograph and collection of 10” records in our permanent collection. The Victor Talking Machine Company, headquartered in Camden, New Jersey, began manufacturing this phonograph model in 1905. It was one of the best models that the company produced, as the large, standard-size round horn provided a more direct and less constricted acoustic path for the sound to follow, compared to other models; music lovers enjoyed superior clarity and volume. We can narrow down the date of the museum’s Victor V, between 1909 and 1915, based on the serial number and letter. And despite it being over 100 years old, it is in excellent condition, and still works; see for yourself below! Museum staff were able to wind up the hand crank and listen to some of the “78s,” which are mostly from The Victor Talking Machine Company and Columbia Records and feature music from Beethoven to Amelita Galli-Curci. However, it is possible that these 78s aren’t even vinyl (shhh!). Shellac was the popular manufacturing material of choice for records prior to the 1940s, when vinyl came around. Based on the manufacturing date of both the Victor V and the music on the 78s, it is highly likely that they were made pre-1940s.
-Alexandra Schindler, Collections Registrar
NUMU collection, 2011.552.7
NUMU collection, 2011.552.10
NUMU collection, 2011.552.19
How will you celebrate National Vinyl Record Day? Let us know in the comments!
Want to learn more about hidden histories within Los Gatos?
Join us (in-person!!) for an introduction to NUMU’s most recent endeavor to share the Town’s history with a special focus on untold stories, the Los Gatos History Project!
Inside the Los Gatos History Project will be held on Thursday, 9/2 at 5:30 PM.
Hear from Exhibitions + Collections Manager, Cristiano Colantoni, and Collections Registrar + LGHP Program Coordinator, Alexandra Schindler, as they discuss the inception of the project, project goals, and provide a status update on progress made and what’s coming up.
Take a behind-the-scenes look at the collections storage and staging areas, get a sneak peek of our upcoming exhibit, and participate in a Q&A with museum staff and attendees.
Capacity is limited. Please RSVP below or click here.
