Why is vinyl called vinyl?

[Tim]

May seem a stupid question and yes I know they are made of vinyl, but I was just wondering what peoples 'individual' take on this is?

I am of an age when I used to buy LP's in the 70's and in those days they were referred to as either LP's, albums or records. I still call them records in truth and the artists and broadcasters I listen to still seem to call them records or making a recording, with any differentiation between formats referred to as either a record, CD or download. So where does the current trend to refer to LP records as vinyl come from - any ideas?

[StanleyB]

They were not always made from vinyl. But when the manufacturers did switch to the more robust vinyl material the term stuck. Just like you know what a hoover is, some terms or brand names became the product identity for any subsequent product of a similar nature or design.

[The Grand Wazoo]

Good question!
I was always confused when record shops stopped selling records but still kept calling themselves record shops!
The word 'album' always denoted 'record' as opposed to 'tape' in my mind.
Lately, I've not been able to come to terms with the trend of pluralising vinyl to vinyls - it has always had an irregular plural to me (ie like sheep or fish).

[The Grand Wazoo]

We used to sometime refer to 'vinyl records' so maybe the increased use of 'vinyl' is a contraction of that term. Perhaps the reason is that the generation who have suddenly discovered 12" records didn't grow up with the lexicography that we did & latched onto the 'vinyl' part of that term?

[Mr Kipling]

Come on lads! You should all know this! It's a derivative of pvc: poly vinyl chloride.

[Tim]

nice one

[MartinT]

I don't know why I migrated from calling them LPs (but never LP's ) to vinyl. I use the names pretty interchangeably and am not precious about it.

[JazzBones]

They were not always made from vinyl. But when the manufacturers did switch to the more robust vinyl material the term stuck. Just like you know what a hoover is, some terms or brand names became the product identity for any subsequent product of a similar nature or design.

.... Like the public address system is referred to as 'Tannoy'. I still refer to vinyl as records or LPs, sometimes albums, why not

[Gmanuk101]

StanB has this nailed down... or "various lengths of alloy, metal or compounds typically used in the connection of two softer materials" ahem

[Audio Al]

Come on lads! You should all know this! It's a derivative of pvc: poly vinyl chloride.

It must be a double album