08/22/2025
This isn't a Frisbee! It's a "recording disc" (phonograph record), but not the standard type most people are familiar with, like 78 RPM shellac, or later 33 1/3 or 45 RPM vinyl records. It was part of the heritage left to the historical society.
The text molded into it mentions U.S. Patents from the early 1900s. It might be an early Edison or Columbia disc record made from hard rubber or shellac compounds before vinyl became standard.
This early-1900s phonograph disc record was likely used with an Edison or Columbia "talking machine".
Though it could have come from anywhere, we're free to imagine this record being played in the MBH over a century ago. The second photo is an example of what the player might have looked like.
So... does anyone have an actual vintage record player so we can hear the tune on it?
