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Western Union completes the first transcontinental telegraph line, providing fast, coast-to-coast communications during the U.S. Civil War.
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Christopher Latham Sholes of Danville, PA and his colleagues, Carlos Glidden and Samuel Soulé developed the first practical typewriter (and the QWERTY keyword.)
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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.
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Emile Berliner invents the first microphone and sells the rights to Bell Telephone.
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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.
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Emile Berliner invents the flat record player ("gramophone") using acoustic horn and licenses technology to record companies who make "70-rpm" disks.
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Danish inventor Valdemar Poulson invents magnetic wire sound recording.
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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.
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Eldredge Johnson perfects first system of mass duplication of pre-recorded flat disks.
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RCA Victor's "Victrola" model record player is introduced. It has a variable turntable speed control to accomodate the wide range of phonograph records produced at that time; Victor's speeds ranged from 71 - 76 rpm. Columbia was producing discs as 80rpm. Some British disks even rotated between 66rpm - 90rpm; Although U.S. phonograph manufacturers agreed in 1928 to standardize on the rate of 78.26 rpm, it still took decades for more standard speeds to be used worldwide.
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Disk recordings overtake cylinders in the popular market. Columbia drops cylinders.
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Electrical records replace acoustic discs, via a process developed by Western Electric.
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Vitaphone introduces a sound system to synchronize music and sound effects with a motion picture.
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NBC -- the "National Broadcasting Company" begins as the first radio network.
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