DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.16784777
title: Recording Horns for Phonograph data

description: Dataset description

This dataset was compiled within the research project Voices in Wax, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF) and hosted by the Hochschule für Musik (HSM), Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz (FHNW), Switzerland. The project examines sound recording technologies of the acoustic era, focusing on the physical characteristics and performance of recording horns used in pre-electrical phonograph recording.

The dataset documents an original recording horn dating from approximately 1900–1925, preserved in a private collection. The horn represents a typical example of the apparatus used to capture sound mechanically. High-resolution photographs, detailed measurements, and profile drawings of the horn are provided.

Based on these data and additional historical sources, three replica horns were constructed for experimental purposes: one following the exact dimensions of the original, one with a polygonal form of comparable proportions, and one inspired by a collapsible horn described in United States Patent No. 67,396 (1901). The dataset includes photographs of each replica alongside the original.

These materials provide a reference for the study of historical recording equipment design, manufacturing techniques, and their role in shaping the sound of early phonograph recordings.
description: README – Recording Horns for Phonograph Data

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.16784777Version: 1.0Publication Date: June 30, 2025 (published)

1. Overview

This dataset supports the Voices in Wax research project, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation, hosted by Hochschule für Musik FHNW. It documents an original recording horn (c. 1900–1925) from a private collection, along with high-resolution photographs, detailed measurements, and profile drawings. The dataset also includes photographs of three commissioned replicas—one faithful to the original, one polygonal, and one inspired by a collapsible design from U.S. Patent No. 67,396 (1901)—to support studies of historical recording apparatus and sound mechanics Zenodo.

2. Contributors



Data Curator: Áurea Domínguez Zenodohttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0225-5221


3. Data Collection Details



Project: Voices in Wax: Recording the Acoustic Era, funded by SNF grant 221011 Zenodo

Collection Context: Preserved historical horn (~1900–1925) and three replicas, photographed and measured under controlled conditions at FHNW. Documentation includes visual, dimensional, and design data.


4. File Inventory






File Name



Description



Format



Size







Recording Horns.JPG



Composite image of original horn and setup



JPG



~2.2 MB





Original Recording Horn.JPG



Original horn photograph



JPG



~765 kB 





polygonal recording horn.JPG



Polygonal replica photograph



JPG



~1.1 MB 





Replica recording horns 2.JPG



Additional replica view



JPG



~1.2 MB  





Replica collapsible horn after patent…JPG



Collapsible replica (after patent)



JPG



~1.3 MB  





Horn_profile.pdf



Profile drawing of horn



PDF



~22.5 kB  





Profile with Slant and Axial Scales.pdf



Scaled profile drawing with slant and axial view



PDF



~22.9 kB  





Measurements_recording_horn.pdf



Detailed measurement table



PDF



~17.8 kB 





 

5. License and Access

This dataset is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licenseZenodo+2Zenodo+2.

6. Methodology and Processing



Data Capture: High-resolution photography and precise measurements of the original horn and replicas under consistent lighting and framing.

Processing: Photographs and drawings were standardized in resolution and format. Measurements were compiled into structured tables. PDFs generated using standard vector and text conventions to preserve clarity and scale.


7. Variable Definitions (Data Dictionary)

Measurements (in Measurements_recording_horn.pdf):



Dimension Name: Description of the physical measurement (e.g., mouth diameter, length)

Unit: Typically millimetres (mm)

Measurement Type: Continuous measurement

Notes: Measurement method or point of reference along the horn


8. References and Related Resources



Project Details: Voices in Wax—Recording the Acoustic Era (SNF grant 221011)

Patent Reference: U.S. Patent No. 67,396 (1901)

Institutional Affiliations: Hochschule für Musik FHNW; Swiss National Science Foundation


9. Citation

Please cite this dataset as:

Domínguez, Á. (2025). Recording Horns for Phonograph Data. Voices in Wax: Recording the Acoustic Era. Dataset. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16784777