History of The 45 RPM Record Format

The Birth of VINYL

Vinyl refers to the monomers that are the building blocks of this class of polymer, vinyl monomers being small molecules containing carbon-carbon double bonds. Vinyl has become a slang term for dozens of compounds referred to generically as vinyl polymers.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is the most familiar of these vinyls. Around 1930, it was discovered that a plasticizer mixed with PVC yields a flexible plastic. It was first mass-produced in Germany in the early 1930's and moved to the United States shortly after that. Early applications included shoe heels, electrical insulators and waterproof PVC-coated fabrics. It was used extensively for military applications during World War II. It was soon to be the basis of the new, modern, "unbreakable" phonograph record.

RCA Victor's Secret Project

RCA Victor was a leader in the field of electronics in the 1930's and the largest producer of consumer electronic products in the United States. They owned many critical patients and had the largest research and development departments as well. It was during this time that RCA developed the first commercially available TV cameras and TV receiving sets.

In 1938, David Sarnoff, the head of RCA, ordered his engineers to develop an entirely new disc record using modern materials and an automatic record changer. The current 78 RPM recording systems of the day were limited by poor sound fidelity and heavy, brittle shellac discs that were easily broken. 78 RPM records typically had to be played one at a time as the heavy and fragile discs did not lend themselves well to automatic record changers for numerous reasons including mechanical jamming during the reject cycle, breakage and slippage between discs when playing.

TO BE CONTINUED . . . .