Welcome to the e-magazine devoted to the investigation of recorded sound from
the pre-microgroove era. This number returns to the mix of newly published
research and classic reprints from difficult to obtain sources. Your
contributions are welcome, the essential goal of this publication is to generate
discussion in order to expand the pool of information.
We once again welcome Ray Wile's "Edisonia" which revisits the question of what
was and what was not issued in the waning days of records at West Orange and
includes some notes on the composition of the shellac compound used in the
lateral pressings of the late 1920's. Next up: a bunch of ARC-related info. Ross
Laird has provided some wonderful source material on the Lucky label from the
files of Nippon Columbia. This strange label offered cosmopolitan Japanes
everything from Wilmoth Houdini to Mae West. The Romeo listing includes the
original Perfect issues as well as the 5000 series pressed for Kresge's during
the late 1920's and early 1930's. It may come as a surprise to some that even at
this late date there are significant gaps in our knowledge of the activities of
major labels which have preserved extensive paperwork but such is the case with
a series of recordings Brunswick made in San Francisco 1932-4. Research at the
Library of Congress has turned up some useful information in the files of C. P.
MacGregor. The Csárdás label is only partially documented, despite having many
sides recorded by RCA Victor. Finally, Electra was one of many labels pressed
for export by Emerson after it was purchased by the Scranton pressing plant,
France being the destination in this case. This example was purchased in Germany
and brought back to the U.S. by the editor.
Please address all correspondence to ddiehlusa@netscape.net
