Historical Figure
Emile Berliner
d. 1929
German-born American inventor (1851–1929)
Talk to Emile Berliner
Have a conversation with this historical figure through AI
Biography
Emile Berliner was a German-American inventor and businessman who invented the lateral-cut flat disc record, also known as a "gramophone record," used with a gramophone. He founded the United States Gramophone Company in 1894;
Timeline
The story of Emile Berliner, told in moments.
Born Emil Berliner in Hanover, Germany, into a Jewish merchant family. Emigrated to the U.S. in 1870 to avoid the Franco-Prussian War draft. Arrived with almost nothing.
Invented an improved telephone transmitter. Alexander Graham Bell's company bought the patent. It was the microphone technology that made the telephone practical for everyday use.
Patented the gramophone and the flat disc record. Edison's cylinder was the dominant format. Berliner's disc was cheaper to manufacture and easier to store. The disc won.
Founded the United States Gramophone Company. The flat record format he invented became the standard for the entire recording industry for the next century.
More from the Interwar & WWII
Explore what happened on the days that shaped Emile Berliner's life. Today In History connects historical figures with the events, births, and deaths that defined their era. Browse all historical figures or explore today's events.