Part 4/10:

Eric Waterworth, an inventor from Australia, attempted to create a record changer in 1925, but it failed to reach the market due to its structural challenges. In 1927, however, the Automatic Orthophonic Victrola by Victor Company took center stage with its unconventional design, featuring a precarious stack of records. The machine performed its duty with an unyielding mechanism that would retrieve and play records one-by-one, demonstrating humanity's eagerness for automation.

Prices for these machines were steep—retailers charged around $600 for this newfound convenience, equivalent to a staggering $9,000 today. Despite the cost, thousands were sold as the desire for effortless listening grew palpable.

Advancements of the Mid-20th Century