1910 the affluent urban
markets for phonographs were "Victrola Crazy" according the
Edison sales force. This was much
harder than the stearic acid compounds and therefore gave
Edison's customers clearer tone and improved reproduction of
music.
Its line phonographs, "in worse condition than any time
in the last three years," could not compete with those of
3
Victor and Columbia. The Edison phonograph organization was a
state disarray: chaos the Phonograph Works, dealers
depressed, sales force demoralized, and steadily falling sales.
The Amberola became very popular the cylinder market
with the introduction the Blue Amberol records 1912. The surface also lasted lot longer. There was doubt that "the Victrola is
in the lead" and was sweeping the Edison phonographs from
4
the market.IX- 5
especially the enclosed horn innovation, while the Victor
company continued protest bitterly and threaten legal
action. This
new record was made plaster paris core covered with a
hard celluloid that was made under license. In
1913 the Company decided that the Amberola should the only
cylinder phonograph manufactured.
The Amberola was only the first shot the Edison
. Despite its popularity, The
Amberola was match for the Victrola which was steadily
gaining popularity and sales. The great
improvement the cylinder record boosted Amberola sales,
while those the other Edison cylinder models decreased
