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Born Emil Berliner in Hanover, Germany, he emigrated to the United States of America in 1870, establishing himself in Washington, D.C.. After some time working in a dry goods store, he became interested in the new audio technology of the telephone and phonographThe phonograph or gramophone was the most common device for playing recorded sound from the 1870s through the 1980s. Usage of these terms is somewhat different in British English and American English; see usage note below. In more modern usage, this devic, and invented an improved telephone transmitter acquired by the Bell Telephone Company , one of the first types of microphoneA microphone sometimes called a "mic" (pronounced "mike"), is a device that converts sound into an electrical signal. Microphones are used in many applications such as telephones, tape recorders, hearing aids and in radio and television broadcasting.. Berliner worked for Bell Telephone in Boston from 1877Events January 1 Queen Victoria proclaimed Empress of India by the Royal Titles Act, introduced by United Kingdom Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli. January 8 Crazy Horse and his warriors fight their last battle with the United States Cavalry ( Montana) Ja to 1883Events January January 16 The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act, establishing the United States Civil service, is passed January 19 The first electric lighting system employing overhead wires begins service ( Roselle, New Jersey) It was built by Thomas E, when he returned to Washington and established himself as a private researcher.
Emile Berliner became a United States citizen in 1881Events January 16- 24 ? Siege of Geok Tepe ? Russian troops under general Skobeleff defeat Turkomans January 25 Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell form the Oriental Telephone Company February 5 Phoenix, Arizona is incorporated. February 13 First issu.
In 18861886 is a common year starting on Friday (click on link to calendar) Events January 18 Modern field hockey is born with the formation of The Hockey Association in England. January 29 Karl Benz patents the first successful gasoline-driven automobile. March Berliner began experimenting with methods of sound recordingMethods and media for sound recording are varied and have undergone significant changes between the first time sound was actually recorded for later playback until now. Bennett (1980, p. 114) describes the development of recording consciousness, the conse. He began work on a system to record on to discs, as opposed to the phonograph cylinders then in use. He was granted his first patent for what he called the "gramophone" in 1887. Within a few years he was marketing his technology to toy companies. However he hoped to develop his device as more than a mere toy, and in 1895 succeeded in getting a group of businessmen to put up 25,000 United States dollars of capital and incorporated the Berliner Gramophone Company (see also).
A problem with early gramophones was difficulty in having the turntable rotate at a steady speed for playback. Engineer Eldridge R. Johnson helped solve this problem by designing clock-work spring wound motors. In 1901 Berliner and Johnson teamed up to found the Victor Talking Machine Company.
Berliner also invented a new type of loom for mass-production of cloth, acoustic tile, and experimented with an early version of the helicopter said by some accounts to have successfully lifted two men off the ground as early as 1909, although other accounts put the date a decade later. Berliner was also active in advocating improvements in public health and sanitation.
Emile Berliner died of a heart attack at the age of 78.