Devices for recording sound

stolní mechanický gramofon, Deutsche Gramophon A.G., 1905-1915

 

The collection of phonographs, including models of the first devices, is fairly extensive and includes several curiosities. We can find here a phonograph that automatically starts playing when a coin is inserted, or a Lioret miniature phonograph for playing special short cylinders. Even cylinder dictaphones are present.
 

The gramophone collection contains an entire series of mechanical and electric gramophones. Among the most interesting are a copy of one of the earliest Berliner gramophones with manual drive, a rare Pathé device or a curious Klingsor gramophone with a resonant string system. The crownpiece of the collection is a table gramophone from the company His Master's Voice, with a so-called Lumier membrane. Also noteworthy is the collection of miniature mechanical collapsible gramophones.
 

Among the electrical gramophones is a series of one-speed table gramophones for playing standard records and several record-changers from the 1930s and 1940s. Post-war Czechoslovakian production is well represented here, from companies like TESLA Litovel, ETA and Elektro-Praga Hlinsko.
 

The collection of magnetophones covers the development of magnetic sound recording, from the oldest wire recorders up through the newest types of magnetophones, both foreign and domestic production. An interesting item is the Marconi-Stille machine for recording sound on a steel tape, used by our broadcasters during the 1930s and 1940s. the collection also includes studio magnetophones. A rarity in the collection is a Philips-Miller sound recording and playback device. It uses different physical principles for recording (mechanical) and playback (optical).
 

Video technology is represented by cassette and reel videomagnetophones using varying systems. Videocameras and other peripheral devices are also present.