Experimental Talking Clock

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The Experimental Talking Clock (circa 1878) was long thought to be the world's oldest playable sound recording and is listed in both the Guinness Book of World Records and The Encyclopedia of Recorded Sound as such; however, an older recording from 1860 by Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville was discovered in 2008. Unlike modern recordings, the recording of the Experimental Talking Clock is a part of the primitive recording device itself. The piece was recorded circa 1878 by inventor Frank Lambert. Seeking to create a longer lasting recording, Lambert chose to experiment with a cylinder made of lead rather than the more common practice of using tinfoil. Lasting 1 minute 40 seconds, the recording features an assortment of peculiar sounds, from Lambert calling out clock hours to indistinct speech. Portions of the recording sound in reverse, lending to the possibility that the phonograph may have been cranked counter-clockwise during certain points of recording.

The 'Experimental Talking Clock' was discovered by early phonograph and recordings collector Aaron Cramer. The device and its recording are currently on display at the National Watch and Clock Museum in Columbia, Pennsylvania.