RCA introduced the “single,” the 7-inch diameter 45 RPM record in the U.S.A single could play eight minutes of sound per side. Columbia had introduced the 12" long-playing vinyl 33 RPM as a new format the previous year. These formats greatly improved upon the 78 RPM records, which were limited to only 5 minutes per side on a 12" disk. Vinyl records were less fragile, and had a lower level of surface noise, but needed new playing equipment. RCA subsequently manufactured a record-player with a wide-diameter spindle to automatically play a stack of singles. The 45 RPM, 7" record was favored by the young, and became successful with the onset of rock and roll. In the UK sales of 45s overtook 78s early in 1958.

A U.S. patent was issued for the railway signal to the Black American inventor, A.B. Blackburn (No. 376,362). The type of signal was that designed to be operated by the wheels of a train. A lever was depressed as a train wheel travelled over it, to remotely operate an alert through a mechanical linkage upon the passing of the train. It was designed for use upon a single track railway line for trains passing in one direction. To provide a signal for trains passing in the opposite direction, a similar apparatus would be applied on the opposite rail. This patent was an improvement in mechanical design of his earlier patent No. 309,517 on 23 Dec 1884, in which he also described how a gong was activated to provide the alert.