© 2008 Museum of Communication

During the early 1950s, the improvements in sound quality of the new vinyl format encourage record companies to embrace the technology, this marks the beginning of the end for the 78rpm shellac disc. The norm becomes the 12 inch LP format and 7 inch 45 rpm records (affordable for teenagers to purchase to listen to their favourite rock and roll band). Music was available to the masses to enjoy in their own homes, and by 1960 affordable turntables, amplifiers and loudspeakers were working well in the marketplace. During this golden age of vinyl The Beatles cornered the 7-inch singles market. Even labels at the centre of the discs took on more inventive hues and logos. The "swinging sixties" with all its visual, musical and cultural upheavals had changed the significance of vinyl forever (i.e. no more a toy for the elite, to an entertainment medium enjoyed by young and old).

Below there is a further selection of some of our record players, and amplifiers. Starting with the Black Box record player (1958) and the HMV Table Radiogram (1952). There is also a small selection of amplifiers there too (the last one is for rock groups of course).