The Birth of a Talking Toy
In 1890, Thomas Edison introduced a groundbreaking invention: a talking doll. Each 22-inch doll housed a mini phonograph in its tin torso, playing nursery rhymes like “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” It was the first toy to incorporate recorded sound, aiming to amaze children and parents alike.
A Rocky Reception
Edison’s dolls were plagued with issues. The hand-crank mechanism often broke, wax recordings were fragile, and the sound was faint and hard to understand. Complaints poured in from buyers, with some dolls malfunctioning after just an hour of use.
A Commercial Disaster
Priced between $10 and $20—a fortune at the time—sales were dismal. Within weeks, Edison pulled the dolls from the market, leaving thousands unsold. Only a few hundred reached customers, making them rare collectibles today.
The Aftermath
Despite plans to improve the design, the Edison Phonograph Toy Manufacturing Company folded under $50,000 of debt. Edison quickly moved on to other ventures.
In 1890, Thomas Edison introduced a groundbreaking invention: a talking doll. Each 22-inch doll housed a mini phonograph in its tin torso, playing nursery rhymes like “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” It was the first toy to incorporate recorded sound, aiming to amaze children and… pic.twitter.com/PAsmgCQpVu
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) November 29, 2024