Music and Media Technology from 1840 to 1899

By coreyanolan

  • First telegraph line

    In the United States, Samuel Morse begins his first telegraph line. The wires run 39 miles from Baltimore, MD to Washington, D.C. The first message sent by Morse is: "What hath God wrought?"
  • Period: to

    Music and Media Technology from 1840 to 1899

  • The New York and Mississippi Valley Printing Telegraph Company is founded

    The New York and Mississippi Valley Printing Telegraph Company is founded in Rochester, New York, which will become Western Union -- this major message service also offered delivery of Telegrams.

  • he New York and Mississippi Valley Printing Telegraph Company changes its name to Western Union

    The New York and Mississippi Valley Printing Telegraph Company acquires several competing companies and changes its name to Western Union; its service of delivering Telegrams will continue until January 27, 2006 -- 150 years after the name change.

  • Western Union completes the first transcontinental telegraph line

    Western Union completes the first transcontinental telegraph line -- providing fast, coast-to-coast communications during the U.S. Civil War.

  • Development of first practical typewriter

    Christopher Latham Sholes of Danville, PA and his colleagues, Carlos Glidden and Samuel Soulé developed the first practical typewriter (and the QWERTY keyword.)

  • The Remington Arms company signs a deal to market Sholes' Typewriter

    The Remington Arms company signs a deal to market Sholes' Typewriter under their name; later they merge with the Rand company to form Remington-Rand.

  • Alexander Graham Bell issued a patent for the Telephone

    Alexander Graham Bell issued a patent for the Telephone on March 7th. By the early 1800's many experimental uses were attempted for this invention including what was later called "Audio Theatre" -- plays and readings performed over the telephone.

  • Edison invents the cylinder "phonograph"

    Edison invents the cylinder "phonograph" used to record and playback sound. Originallyvthought to be useful as a business machine for dictation (like the dictaphone which would come later.) Other uses: recordings of plays pre-dating Radio Drama nearly 50 years.

  • Emile Berliner invents the first microphone

    Emile Berliner invents the first microphone and sells the rights to Bell Telephone.

  • Edison issued a patent for the electric incandescent light bulb

    Edison issued a patent for the electric incandescent light bulb; wires part of New York with DC current to power street lights and lights in wealthy homes.

  • Emile Berliner invents the flat record player ("gramophone")

    Emile Berliner invents the flat record player ("gramophone") using acoustic horn and licenses technology to record companies who make "70-rpm" disks.

  • Valdemar Poulson invents magnetic wire sound recording

    Danish inventor Valdemar Poulson invents magnetic wire sound recording.

  • Louis Glass invents the modern jukebox

    Louis Glass invents the modern jukebox (coin-operated phonograph) and installs it at the "Palais Royal" saloon in San Francisco where it is an immediate hit.

  • The International copyright agreement is adopted

    The International copyright agreement is adopted between major countries.

  • Popular music becomes a serious business

    Popular music becomes a serious business; Music Publishers begin renting office space on 28th street in New York City, near vaudeville theatres in an area that would become known worldwide as "Tin Pan Alley."

  • The first "million-seller" song hit

    The first "million-seller" song hit (sold via sheet music) was "After The Ball" by Charles K. Harris, who was both its composer and publisher.

  • Music with a motion picture program

    The Lumiere Brothers use (piano) music with a motion picture program (of short subjects) for the first time at a Dec. 28th -screening at the Grand Café in Paris

  • Orchestra is used with (silent) motion pictures

    An orchestra is used with (silent) motion pictures for the first time in April in London

  • Shellac gramophone disks developed by Emile Berliner

    Shellac gramophone disks developed by Emile Berliner - speeds will vary on discs issued by companies in different countries (80 rpm was used on some British recordings)

  • Joseph John Thompson discovers the electron particle

    British scientist Joseph John Thompson discovers the electron particle within cathode rays.

  • Marconi is granted his first British patent

    Guglielmo Marconi is granted his first British patent for wireless telegraphy.