Collection: Gold Moulded Cylinders (2M)

Edison Gold Moulded Cylinders: A Breakthrough in Early Sound Recording

Edison Gold Moulded Records were an important innovation in the early history of recorded sound, representing a leap forward in both durability and production efficiency. Introduced by Thomas Edison’s National Phonograph Company in 1902, these records were made to be played on Edison cylinder phonographs and were among the most popular commercial sound media of the early 20th century.

Material and Construction

Unlike earlier wax cylinders, which were soft and prone to rapid wear, Gold Moulded Records were created using a hard black wax composition that improved both sound quality and longevity. The term "Gold Moulded" refers to a unique process that used a gold-coated master cylinder to create metal molds, which could then be used to mass-produce multiple identical copies with precision. This innovation allowed for a uniform sound across copies and significantly reduced the cost of manufacturing.

Design and Packaging

Each cylinder came in a cardboard container with a fitted lid, featuring decorative labels with ornate typography and marketing slogans like:

“Echo All Over the World”

This phrase captured the excitement of a new global era of audio entertainment. The label also bore Edison’s name and often a place of manufacture, lending authenticity and prestige. The bright, stylized design of the containers made them visually distinctive and collectible.

Performance and Catalog

Edison Gold Moulded cylinders typically offered two minutes of playback time, with later advancements extending that to four minutes (using the Blue Amberol line). The catalog featured a wide range of content including:

• Popular songs of the era

• Comic monologues

• Instrumental performances

• Ethnic and regional recordings

• Speeches and recitations

Artists like Billy Murray, Ada Jones, and Edward M. Favor were frequently featured.

Legacy

These cylinders played a key role in shaping the early home entertainment industry. Their durability, improved fidelity, and mass-producibility set the stage for later developments in sound recording media. Today, Edison Gold Moulded Records are prized by collectors, archivists, and phonograph enthusiasts, valued not just for their audio content but also for their beautifully designed packaging and historical significance.

Attention: The Phonograph Shop only offers nicer Gold Moulded cylinder records for individual sell (any issues will be pointed out in the pictures and noted in the description). For that reason, we leverage a very basic grading system. Please keep in mind that record grading is somewhat subjective and requires experience. All record grading decisions are at the discretion of The Phonograph Shop. We will not debate nuances with personal opinions or other grading systems. If you are a serious collector and feel our grading may be at odds with yours, please reach out before ordering.

All Gold Moulded cylinder grading is visual inspection only. 

• Excellent: These records still retain a nice shine and should play well.
• Good: These records may show signs of typical wear, such as, graying or light scratches.