2. Phonograph Records. The earliest recorded sound was transcribed on cylinders made of a variety of compounds. These early recordings are rare and fragile. They must be stored in a secure, controlled environment with rigid temperature, humidity, and pollution controls. Cylinders, and other early recordings in a variety of unusual formats, are rarely, if ever, played.
The phonodisc (phonograph record) is a flat disc, made of a wide variety of materials. The physical nature of phonograph records is...