Indestructible Records facts for kids

The Indestructible Record Company was a music company that made special sound recordings. It started in 1906 thanks to a person named William Messer. He had previously worked with Thomas Lambert, who invented plastic cylinder records.

Early Sound Recordings

Indestructible Records became known for making unique cylinder records. These were different from the flat disc records we know today.

What Were Cylinder Records?

Cylinder records were shaped like tubes. Sound was recorded onto their surface in a spiral groove. To play them, you would put the cylinder on a special machine called a phonograph. A needle would follow the groove, and the sound would come out through a horn.

Indestructible's Special Cylinders

In 1909, Indestructible Records started making "4-minute cylinders." These were very special because they could hold twice as much music as older cylinders. This was possible because they had 200 grooves in every inch, instead of the usual 100. More grooves meant more space for sound!

How Records Were Made

Making records was a complex process, especially when companies wanted to share music.

Sharing Music: Dubbing

In the 1910s, Indestructible Records began a process called "dubbing." This meant they would copy music from other companies' master recordings. They copied from Columbia Records and later from Federal Record Corporation. Even Thomas Edison's company, which made special blue cylinders called Blue Amberols, started sharing masters in 1915. This allowed more people to hear a wider variety of music.

Federal Records Connection

Indestructible Records actually launched the Federal Record Corporation in 1919. After this, Indestructible used Federal's master recordings for their own cylinders. This showed how connected these early music companies were.

The End of Indestructible

Sadly, the story of Indestructible Records came to an end due to an unexpected event.

Factory Fire and Closure

In the fall of 1922, a big fire broke out at the Indestructible Records factory. This fire was so severe that it completely stopped all cylinder record production. The company could not recover from this disaster.

Federal Records Continues

While Indestructible Records stopped making cylinders, the Federal Record Corporation continued for a while. Its disc production paused, but new recordings were still made sometimes. In 1925, Federal Records was bought by Emerson Records. Interestingly, Emerson Records still exists today, making radios and other electronics.

Images for kids

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  Indestructible cylinder records