Hearing History

"The Indestructible Phonograph Co. of Albany, New York, produced molded celluloid cylinders beginning in 1907. The company made both two- and four-minute cylinders, and the repertoire was similar to that of Edison and Columbia cylinders. The cylinders had a thick cardboard core and metal rim ends to keep them rigid. Production continued until 1922, and cylinders were issued both under the Indestructible Record label and also for Sears, Roebuck, and Co. as Oxford Indestructible Records, as pictured above. From 1908 to 1912 they were also distributed by the Columbia Phonograph Co.

Regardless of the brand under which they were sold, Indestructible cylinders all have the same content for a given catalog number and carry no company identification on the cylinder itself, so if they have become separated from their original boxes, the different brands are indistinguishable." (source)

In the spring of 2021, an archaeological investigation in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia coughed up an old gramophone cylinder. A product of the Indestructible Phonograph Co., the cylinder, 100 years after it was made, still clearly had the name of the song and musician ("Put on your old Grey Bonnet" by Harlan & Chorus), as well as the number "1303" on it. 

Byron G. Harlan was a prolific musician in the early decades of the 20th century. His name can be found in various newspapers with the new releases of the month like this one from The Salem News (Ohio) September 25, 1908 where a store was to play the new Edison releases:

Indestructible Records' recordings are housed at the University of California Santa Barbara Library in their Cylinder Audio Archive (source).

The recording found on this cylinder is here: http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/detail.php?query_type=mms_id&query=990029747440203776&r=2&of=2

I find it quite magical to find such an artifact and within minutes be able to listen to what it used to hold.