Miniature phonograph, for travel or children's use, Nifty-Nirona, originating from Germany, 19th - 20th century. A miniature phonograph is a miniaturized, portable version of a device for the mechanical reproduction of sound from records. Originally it was a mechanically driven device, invented by the Pathé brothers and produced mainly between 1905 and 1920. The phonograph, in contrast to the gramophone, used vertical-cut records and reproduced sound from the inside out, using a ball (e.g., sapphire) instead of a needle. This construction almost eliminated noise, which was a significant improvement over the gramophone. Their purpose was for use in travel, for children (as an advanced toy), and at home (where a smaller size was important). Miniature phonographs were, in their time, technically advanced devices that democratized access to music, allowing it to be listened to outside the home. Today they are sought-after collector's items.