Columbia Grand Records – Concert/Grand Cylinders
Columbia Phonograph Company, New York & London
ca. 1898–1905 | Diameter: 5 inches (12.7 cm) | Playing time: up to 4–5 minutes
Historical Background
These large-format Grand Records were produced by Columbia especially for the exhibition machines of the Graphophone Grand series. Almost twice the size of ordinary standard cylinders (2-inch diameter), they were designed to provide significantly greater volume and extended playing time.
The larger diameter allowed for much wider grooves, resulting in a stronger, more resonant sound. These cylinders were not primarily aimed at private households but at showrooms, concert halls, fairs, and public demonstrations, where the goal was to impress audiences with particularly loud and clear playback.
Technical Features
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Format: 5-inch diameter, approx. 11 cm length
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Playing time: 4–5 minutes
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Material: brown wax, fragile and prone to damage
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Label: green print, with the inscription “Made especially for the Graphophone Grand – The Marvelous Talking Machine”
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Packaging: large, sturdy cardboard container with paper lining
Significance
The Columbia Grand Records were an experiment in enlarging the sound medium beyond standard formats. They offered impressive sound quality but were expensive to manufacture and required specialized, bulky machines (Graphophone Grand, Home Grand, Type AG, etc.).
As a result, Grand/Concert cylinders remained a niche product. Only a few years later, the flat disc record became dominant, being easier to produce and more durable in daily use.
Today, original Columbia Grand cylinders rank among the rarest surviving sound carriers of the early recording era. The example preserved in the Edisonium is a striking witness to these early efforts to increase sound volume and playing time by enlarging the medium itself.
