Do you have any Grey Poupon?

Stumbled across this archive of files in mp3 format, I thought it was pretty interesting so I figured I'd share (now you can't say that you've never learned anything from a drunk)...

Edison National Historic Site - Audio Recordings

Thomas Alva Edison
(1847 - 1931)

"The archive at Edison National Historic Site includes approximately 48,000 disc and cylinder records produced by Edison in West Orange, New Jersey, between 1888 and 1929. Many of these, including unreleased and experimental recordings, have been at the Laboratory since Edison's lifetime. Some of the earliest examples of recorded sound in existence are preserved within this unique collection.

The subject matter of the recordings is mostly music, covering genres popular in the United States during Edison's era. Spoken word recordings include vaudeville comedy sketches, documentary speeches, educational lessons, and motion picture dialogue soundtracks. Experimental recordings document research carried out at the Edison Laboratory to develop recorded sound technology.

We have compiled a selection of sound files in the MP3 format from the archive and arranged them by genre. They may be played on Windows with the Windows Media Player or WinAmp, and on Macs with QuickTime, or by using another MP3 player of your choice."

Edison with one of his audio cylinders

Note: In 1929, Edison's close friend, Henry Ford, completed the task of moving Edison's original Menlo Park laboratory to the Greenfield Village museum in Dearborn, Mich. In 1962 his existing laboratory and home in West Orange, N.J. were designated as National Historic Sites.

I've actually been to Greenfield Village before to see Edison's laboratory, it's an extremely interesting place to visit. If you're ever in the area definitely take the time out to see this place. Plus they've also got an Imax Theatre at Greenfield Village which regularly shows films!

Audio mp3 Sound Recording Edison Downloads History Historic Unique Experimental McBoozo