Advent Day 19 – Dictaphone 1924

In the run up to Christmas we’ll show some of the objects added to the Museum’s collection in the last 12 months. These objects will be on display at the Museum until we close for Christmas on 16th December.

Alexander Graham Bell, of telephone fame, took a Thomas Edison device called a phonograph and improved upon it. He helped create the first wax cylinder recording machine and founded the Dictaphone Company to manufacture sound and recording equipment. Dictaphone later became the generic name for such machines. This example, missing its wax cylinder, was used by Goodchild, Chartered Surveyor, at 123 South Street, Romford during the mid 20^th century.

Donated by Newham Heritage and Archives