Here are ten fascinating pieces of information about vinyl records that you may not be aware of:

1. Thomas Edison, the inventor of the phonograph, first attempted to use rubber-based material for his records. However, due to technical challenges and the limited durability of the material, he eventually switched to using cylindrical records made of wax.
2. Early vinyl records were made using a mix of shellac, cotton fibre, and abrasive fillers. It was only in the 1940s that the industry started using polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which became the standard material for vinyl records.
3. Vinyl records are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) which is where they get their name. The word “vinyl” comes from the Latin word “vinum” which means wine. Initially, “vinyl” was a trademark for DuPont’s Pliofilm, a flexible plastic.
4. Some artists have hidden messages in the run-out grooves of their vinyl records. These messages are usually short phrases or symbols etched into the dead wax, which is the area between the last groove and the label.
5. Coloured vinyl records have a history that dates back to the 1930s when blue and red discs were produced for specific releases. However, the trend gained popularity in the 1970s with the emergence of punk and new wave genres.
6. Before the 33 1/3 and 45 RPM formats became widely adopted, there was the era of 78 RPM records. These records spun at 78 revolutions per minute and were made of various materials including shellac and early plastics.
7. During World War II, due to the shortage of materials, some records were made by melting down old ones for reuse, including shellac.
8. While the 7-inch and 12-inch formats are the most common vinyl record sizes, artists have released records in various sizes throughout history. Some artists have even released records in unconventional sizes, such as 10-inch and 5-inch records.
9. Vinyl records have different types of groove variations. The most common type is the spiral groove, but some experimental and novelty records feature grooves shaped like concentric circles or even figure-eight patterns.
10. In the 1980s, some record labels and artists started using laser-etched designs on vinyl records. These intricate etchings were often found on the B-side of singles and added a visual element to the listening experience.

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