How stereo changed our lives.

I think people take equipment for the reproduction of music for granted. Before the 20th century, apart from player pianos, there was very little apart from live performances, including by family members. Commercial radio (KDKA) was circa 1920. Yes, there were gramophones to play 78s with limitations. (Electrical recording was circa 1925). I'm not sure how practical or common the wax cylinder (Edison) was.  The LP was first introduced in after WWII, which may seem like a long time ago, but is really not that distant in time.

When you think about the availability of music everywhere, from portables and phones, to in-store, restaurants (an annoyance when too loud), to home hi-fi, we’ve come along way from having to go to a concert or cinema (after the talkies) to hear music.

The antiquarian gear fascinates me. You know how Motorola got its name, yes?

It was a retrofit product to introduce radio into automobiles.

Radio was the most important invention. After that - the tape.

@inna- for mass consumption, the cassette, which really came into its own what- in the '70s? (I fondly remember the Advent with Dolby).  8 track in cars for a spell, but pretty kludgey. Not sure how much market there was for reel to reel in the home, even when pre-recorded material was marketed. I think the record- both LP and 45 were far more dominant in the average home. 

Yes, cassette, still the tape.

Bill, you are probably right about LPs and 45s, I don’t know. Still, I would guess quite a number of people had reel-to-reel decks.

The greater availability of music has greatly devalued it. It's a sad situation.