Posts tagged Paris Expo

Clearly I’ve been reading only archaeology sites recently, as I almost missed this incredible story. Found in Thomas Edison’s lab in an unlabelled box in 1957, a wax cylinder phonograph from 1889 has for the first time in 100 years, revealed the voice of Otto Von Bismarck. Restoration work undertaken by the Thomas Edison National Historical Park Museum uncovers a very faint and crackling, but just audible voice of the German statesman, who recites poetry and offers words of wisdom. As for the recorder, Adelbert Theodor Wangemann, following emigration from Germany he became an assistant to Thomas Edison. The phonograph itself was accompanied by Wangemann at the Paris Expo in 1889 to ensure it remained working and following the success, his trip was extended. According to the NY Times “After Paris, Wangemann toured his native Germany, recording musical artists and often visiting the homes of prominent members of society who were fascinated with the talking machine.”

As well as the fateful day of October 7th 1889 when Wangemann caught Bismarck’s musings, in a similarly sensational fashion he later recorded German military strategist Helmuth von Moltke who was at the time, 89. As the sound historian Stephan Puille puts it, “these are the only recordings of a person born in the 18th which are still audible today.” All the more significant when put in those terms…

The technical details of how the wax cylinders were played once more are here: http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/01/edisons-files-reveal-the-only-known-voice-recording-of-someone-born-in-the-18th-century/252283/

And the recording: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16831933

A postcard from Adelbert Wangemann sent from Germany to Thomas Edison.