A gramophone is a device used to play sound recordings, primarily music. It works by using a needle that vibrates as it moves over grooves on a vinyl record. These vibrations are then amplified to produce sound. The gramophone was a significant advancement in audio technology during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The first gramophones were hand-cranked, but later models became electric, making them easier to use. Thomas Edison and Emile Berliner were key figures in the development of this technology. Gramophones played a crucial role in the popularization of recorded music before the advent of modern audio devices.