Hear Edison Talking Doll Sound Recordings

Making Edison Talking Doll recordings, Scientific American magazine, April 26, 1890

Scientific American

As of April 2015, there are eight Edison Talking Doll recordings known to have been digitized. We present all eight recordings here. Click on the titles below for information, audio, and photographs.

Title: Twinkle, twinkle little star (Example 1)

Object type: Edison Talking Doll cylinder, metal

Recording date: Fall of 1888

From collection: Thomas Edison National Historical Park, National Park Service


Title: Hickory, dickory, dock

Object type: Edison Talking Doll cylinder, metal

Recording date: probably early 1889

From collection: Thomas Edison National Historical Park, National Park Service


Title: Twinkle, twinkle little star (Example 2)

Object type: Edison Talking Doll cylinder, brown wax

Recording date: c. February to May 1890

From collection: Thomas Edison National Historical Park, National Park Service


Title: Little Jack Horner

Object type: Edison Talking Doll cylinder, brown wax

Recording date: c. February to May 1890

From collection: Rosemary Timpson


Title: There was a little girl

Object type: Edison Talking Doll cylinder, brown wax

Recording date: c. February to May 1890

From collection: Joan and Robin Rolfs


Title: Twinkle, twinkle little star (Example 3)

Object type: Edison Talking Doll cylinder, brown wax

Recording date: c. February to May 1890

From collection: Joan and Robin Rolfs


Title: Now I lay me down to sleep

Object type: Edison Talking Doll cylinder, brown wax

Recording date: c. February to May 1890

From collection: David Heitz


Title: Jack and Jill

Object type: Edison Talking Doll cylinder, brown wax

Recording date: c. February to May 1890

From collection: Smithsonian Institution

Last updated: April 24, 2015

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