The term "vinyl record" is actually a misnomer for some of the most unusual audio recordings ever created. Throughout recording history, engineers and artists have experimented with pressing sound onto unexpected materials—some playable, some purely conceptual, and all highly collectible today.
Unconventional Materials That Actually Play
1. The Chocolate Record (1903)
• Material: Playable chocolate disc
• Origin: Early Edison experiment in edible media
• Playability: Could be played 2-3 times before melting
• Current Status: Only 3 known examples survive in climate-controlled collections
2. WWI Shellac Substitutes (1917-1918)
• Material: Pressed on recycled x-ray film, cardboard, and even pasta
• Origin: Shellac shortages during the war
• Collector Value: $2,000-$5,000 for complete examples
• Durability: Most degraded quickly—only a handful remain playable
Modern Experimental Pressings
3. The Blood Record (2014)
• Material: Pressed with human blood in the vinyl compound
• Artist: Death metal band Bloodbath
• Edition: Limited to 100 copies
• Current Value: $1,200-$1,800
• Controversy: Medical disposal laws prevented further pressings
4. NASA's Golden Records (1977)
• Material: Gold-plated copper (Voyager spacecraft versions)
• Content: Sounds of Earth for extraterrestrials
• Earth Edition: Only 10 official copies exist
• Auction Price: One sold for $51,000 in 2017
Failed Format Experiments
5. The Glass Record (1920s-1930s)
• Material: Actual glass discs
• Manufacturer: Pathe, Perfectaphone
• Survival Rate: Less than 1% still exist due to fragility
• Collector Tip: Listen with fiber needle only
6. The Steel Record (1940s)
• Material: Stainless steel
• Purpose: Military use in tropical climates
• Sound Quality: Surprisingly good high-end response
• Rarity: Most were melted down postwar
Where to Hunt for Non-Vinyl Records
Physical Locations
• Science and technology museums
• Military surplus auctions
• Experimental music archives
Online Resources
• Museum surplus catalogs
• Industrial history forums
• Aerospace memorabilia sites
Why These Oddities Matter
Beyond their novelty value, these unusual formats represent:
• Solutions to historical material shortages
• Early experiments in audio preservation
• The outer limits of recording technology
• Fascinating dead-ends in media evolution
For collectors, these objects exist at the intersection of audio history, material science, and pure eccentricity. They challenge our definition of what a "record" can be—and prove that music has been pressed onto nearly every material imaginable.

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