A16-inch transcription disc—a rare and short-lived format used by radio stations to accommodate longer recordings before the advent of microgroove records in the mid-1940s.
An aluminum Speak-O-Phone record—a significant advancement in home recording technology. Consumers could step into private sound booths and record their own audio directly onto aluminum discs, which could only be played back using bamboo needles. Our disc holds something truly extraordinary: possibly the first known radio broadcast of electronic music. At the time, Hammond was developing his experimental “Piraphon” piano, a hybrid instrument featuring a speaker system with pickups to amplify the piano’s sound, along with a built-in radio and phonograph for playing along with recorded music.
A rare home recording medium, this 6″ record—smaller than the standard 7″—was made from a softer, custom material known as Victrolac. Unfortunately, the audio on this particular disc is indecipherable, as Victrolac was notorious for its poor sound quality.
A sleek and striking ‘Red Seal De Luxe’ RCA Victor record from Hammond’s personal collection. Colored shellac and vinyl records began appearing in the mid-1940s, and today, clear vinyl is often less expensive to produce than traditional black records.
A laser-printed, hands-on model that invites visitors to touch and explore how a needle physically tracks the grooves of a record to reproduce sound. Interactivity is a key feature of this exhibit.
An international recording by Xavier Cugat, the Cuban-born bandleader known for popularizing Spanish and Latin music. Hammond’s collection features a diverse array of global artists, including recordings from Russia, Scandinavia, Persia, Palestine, Greece, Germany, Hawaii, and Africa.
A selection of albums recorded at Hammond Castle over the years by renowned artists including Kenneth Wilson, Richard Ellsasser, and Berj Zamkochian—each showcasing the unique sound of our historic pipe organ.
A 1920s-era phonograph playing one of the few commercially produced records recorded inside the castle. Renowned organist Virgil Fox recorded numerous tracks here on our historic organ.
A Fisher-Price record player provides a fun, interactive way for young visitors to explore the difference between analog and digital audio using two toy-based examples. The disc featured here is a recreation of Lazy Man, a song credited to John Hays Hammond Jr.
A16-inch transcription disc—a rare and short-lived format used by radio stations to accommodate longer recordings before the advent of microgroove records in the mid-1940s.
This test record was likely sent to Hammond for previewing or testing the audio quality. Leopold Stokowski, an associate of Hammond, conducted many of the pieces in Hammond’s collection.
