The word "victrolas" refers to an old brand of phonograph made by the Victor Talking Machine Company. The spelling of this word can be understood through IPA phonetic transcription as [vɪkˈtrəʊləz], with the emphasis on the second syllable. The "c" in the spelling is pronounced with a soft "s" sound, and the final "s" is pronounced as a "z." While this word is no longer widely used, it remains an important part of the history of recorded music.
Victrolas refers to a specific type of phonograph or gramophone that was popular during the early 20th century. The term specifically refers to the brand name of phonographs manufactured by the Victor Talking Machine Company, which was established by Eldridge R. Johnson in the late 19th century. However, over time, the term "victrolas" has become a common generic term used to describe any antique or vintage wind-up record player, regardless of the brand.
Victrolas were designed as large pieces of furniture with an integrated sound system, featuring a cabinet housing a turntable, an internal speaker, and a mechanical or spring-wound motor that provided the power for playing records. The turntable had a rotating disk on which records were placed and played using a needle or stylus. The sound produced by victrolas was amplified through a horn or soundbox, which projected the audio into the room.
These phonographs were operated by winding a crank to provide the necessary power to play the records. They were commonly used to play 78 RPM shellac records, which were the standard format during that era. The popularity of victrolas diminished by the late 1920s with the introduction of electrical amplification and the development of new record formats, such as 33 1/3 and 45 RPM, which required different types of players.
Today, victrolas are sought-after collector's items and showcase a nostalgic aesthetic. They serve as a reminder of a bygone era, where music was played through physical records and where the concept of home entertainment was quite different from the modern digital age.
The word "Victrola" is derived from the combination of two words: "Victor" and "ola".
"Victor" refers to the Victor Talking Machine Company, which was a prominent American producer of phonographs and phonograph records from the late 19th to the mid-20th century. The company was founded by Eldridge R. Johnson in 1901 and quickly gained popularity, particularly with its introduction of the Victrola.
The second part, "ola", is synonymous with the word "ola", meaning "sound" or "voice" in Latin. It was commonly used in the naming of early phonograph models, such as the "Columbia Grafonola" or the "Sonola".