Name/Title
Giant Wax Cylinder for the Graphophone Multiplex GrandEntry/Object ID
252Description
The largest surviving phonograph cylinder in the world – an acoustic one-of-a-kind in its original container (USA, ca. 1900)
This monumental cylinder originates from the legendary Graphophone Multiplex Grand, developed around 1900 by the American Graphophone Company. The device, now on display at the Edisonium, was capable of playing over 20 minutes of music on a single groove track using this special cylinder – an extraordinary technical achievement for its time.
An acoustic puzzle – shattered but not lost:
The cylinder shown here is the largest surviving original wax phonograph cylinder in the world. For decades, it was stored in a cylindrical metal container – yet despite this protection, it eventually shattered into over 100 pieces due to age and material stress.
The renowned American phonograph expert and dentist Dr. Michael Khanchalian – internationally respected for his work with historic sound recordings – undertook the herculean task of restoring it. With the precision of dental craftsmanship and deep historical sensitivity, he painstakingly reassembled the cylinder piece by piece. The result is a near-complete reconstruction – a restoration marvel unlike anything else known worldwide.
Technical context:
The cylinder measures approximately 6 ⅜ inches (16.2 cm) in diameter and 10 inches (25.7 cm) in length. It was intended for “single-track playback” – featuring a continuous spiral groove, which allowed for maximum playing time and superior sound quality.
Connection to the Edisonium’s device:
This very cylinder belongs to the Graphophone Multiplex Grand, which is also exhibited at the Edisonium. That groundbreaking machine could play either three parallel tracks or a single long one, like the version seen here.
Conclusion:
This cylinder is a technological landmark, a restoration masterpiece, and a unique global relic of early acoustic mass entertainment. It embodies history, craftsmanship, and pioneering spirit – and, together with its matching playback machine, forms one of the crown jewels of the Edisonium Mariazell collection.
