Turntables - Dominance of The Gramophone Record

Dominance of The Gramophone Record

Berliner's lateral disc record was the ancestor of the 78 rpm, 45 rpm, 33⅓ rpm, and all other analogue disc records popular for use in sound recording through the 20th century. See gramophone record.

The 1920s brought improved radio technology and radio sales, bringing many phonograph dealers to near financial ruin. With efforts at improved audio fidelity, the big record companies succeeded in keeping business booming through the end of the decade, but the record sales plummeted during the Great Depression, with many companies merging or going out of business.

Record sales picked up appreciably by the late 30s and early 40s, with greater improvements in fidelity and more money to be spent. By this time home phonographs had become much more common, though it wasn't until the 1940s that console radio/phono set-ups with automatic record changers became more common.

In 1940, vinyl was used as a record material, mostly commercially for transcription discs. Practically no home discs were stamped with this material. Victor apparently pressed some vinyl 78s. A transition was made from shellac to vinyl in the popular V-disc that was issued to soldiers during the war. This significantly reduced breakage during transport. It wasn't until after the war, however, that vinyl started to dominate the consumer record industry. 78s mostly remained stamped of shellac until they were completely phased out. 33s and 45s were, however, made exclusively of vinyl, with the exception of some 45s manufactured out of polystyrene.

Booms in record sales returned after World War II as standards changed from 78s to vinyl long play records, which could contain an entire symphony, and 45s which usually contained one hit popularized on the radio, plus another song on the back or "flip" side. An "extended play" version of the 45 was also available, designated 45 EP, which provided capacity for longer selections, or two regular-length songs per side.