Charted history of the music player

We're not altogether sure what 1840's key wind music box would have played. Perhaps a minimalist rendition of Beethoven's "Moonlight" Sonata?

Pop Chart Labs continue to further their reputation as the visual curators of everything, having already charted the history of the bicycle, explained the world of beer and recorded the world's most famous eyewear. Their latest work, The Advance of Audio Apparatuses, records 173 years of musical machines - from the aforementioned key wind to this year's iPhone 5s.

A total of 219 players have been illustrated, showing the advance from physically impressed musical recordings through to the digital age. It's not an exhaustive list, but a 'best of' of close to two centuries of recorded sound. Audiophiles can pick up a print of this brilliant poster from the Pop Chart Labs shop.

To explore the chart, click to enlarge.

(Images: Pop Chart Labs)