Who invented phonograph?

Edison invented the first phonograph in 1877. He got the patent for it at the same time. The name phonograph was originally given by Edison; the word was derived from Greek words meaning sound or voice. Edison did not work on developing a phonograph but it was invented while he was working on a telegraph machine. Edison had started working on the telegraph machine when he was a teenager. The first phonograph which Edison designed was a small model which used tin foil covered metal cylinder as a record. It had an axle which could be turned and a mouthpiece with a vibrating disc or a diaphragm. A later version had a funnel-shaped earpiece to increase the volume of the sound.

The early versions of phonograph had few problems. The cylinder either damaged or became worn out after few uses. Cylinder production was a difficult task. The handle had to be constantly turned while speaking in the mouthpiece.

Thomas Alva Edison was born on February 11, 1847 in Milan, Ohio. He is one of the greatest inventors of the America. At the age of seven his family moved to Michigan. His formal schooling was just for three months as he was not a good scholar according to his teacher. He was taught by his mother who was confident of his child’s capability. At the age of 15 he became deaf after an accident. Even after so many hardships he became a successful inventor.