I must admit, this device is news to me:

The device that recorded the audio is playing back music for the first time in 150 years. Read more at:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7318180.stm

Matrixsynth post

Nice—it’s elsewhere on the net with more info:

At Matrixsynth:
http://matrixsynth.blogspot.com/2008/03/from-1860-first-sample-ever.html

At RetroThing:
http://www.retrothing.com/2008/03/the-phonoautogr.html

The NewYork Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/arts/27soun.html?ei=5124&en=f98597c020…