The story of talking books

In 1920 the RNIB began testing books that could talk, to help soliders blinded during the first world war who were finding Braille difficult to learn Photograph: Imperial War Museum

By 1926 the RNIB was testing long-playing records to be played on gramophones. It was largely due to this that LP records were developed for playing music in the UK Photograph: RNIB

Talking Books received an enthusiastic reaction from blind and partially sighted people. The books were recorded on 12-inch discs made from shellac. A typical novel would fit on to 10 double-sided records Photograph: RNIB

The Society of Authors and the Society of Publishers supported the Talking Books service with permission to record books. The Post Office granted a special cheap postage rate for the books Photograph: RNIB

By September 1937, 966 machines had been sent out to readers, and 42 new titles recorded Photograph: RNIB

In 1940, the recording studio was bombed. Fortunately, one recording machine survived and recording began again in August 1941. During the war the American Foundation for the Blind sent a gift of 500,000 gramophone needles to the RNIB. However, they were destroyed by enemy forces in the UK docks. The Americans resent their gift
Photograph: RNIB

The RNIB Talking Book studio, 1960 Photograph: RNIB

Discs are packaged up ready for dispatch Photograph: RNIB

Many famous writers, authors, actors and celebrities have contributed to the Talking Books service. Here Julian Barnes works in the studio Photograph: RNIB

Jim Broadbent, Sir John Mills and June Whitfield all offer their talents in the studio in 2001 Photograph: RNIB

The RNIB Daisy Player. In 1998, an appeal headed by Melvin Bragg was launched to fund a new service that would turn the books into a digital format. By 2002, books were recorded digitally, and digital Talking Book players had been sent out
Photograph: RNIB

The digital Talking Book player. Since the Talking Books service started, 75m books have been issued to more than 2 million people Photograph: RNIB/Igor Emmerich

From a collection of almost 18,000 titles, customers can choose to read anything from thrillers to travel, romance to comedy, or sci-fi to westerns Photograph: RNIB

Talking Book players now have colour contrast buttons and talking instructions, so they can be used easily by people with sight problems

Find out more about Talking Books
Photograph: RNIB/Igor Emmerich