Video at the link
The recording technology itself is not so hard to come by as Edison’s original concept was to use the players to record as well. Originally he intended the machines to be used to take dictation, etc.
Selling songs was not the original idea.
“Originally he intended the machines to be used to take dictation, etc.”
One of the Nero Wolfe detective stories hinges on some kind of dictation cylinders used by a business man. I can’t remember if they are made of wax, or paper, or what.
It seems to me this was some very short lived technology I’ve never heard of them other than their (crucial) appearance in this story.
I’m thinking it takes place in the late 40s, early 50s.