Interesting Columbia Cylinders on Ebay

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phonogal
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Interesting Columbia Cylinders on Ebay

Post by phonogal »

I've never seen these before. Anyone know anything about them? Seller has 3 different sets listed.Here is a link to 1 set eBay Item #382439712962

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GlensterTX
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Re: Interesting Columbia Cylinders on Ebay

Post by GlensterTX »

Wanhope Columbia cylinder 1.jpg
Wanhope Columbia cylinder 1.jpg (75 KiB) Viewed 2076 times

For those who come later, after the auction is over:

"This is a Great, Rare, Early "A Socialist Speech: Is Competition The Life of Trade? by Joseph Wanhope" Columbia Graphophone 3 cylinder records set. These wonderful Old pieces have Great, Early designs, come in their Original, 1900 dated tubes, were "Made Especially for Wilshire Book Co.", are Original, Vintage examples and Very Rare to Find. These cylinders appear to be in Very Good, Crisp condition, with some typical container wear and soiling."

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Re: Interesting Columbia Cylinders on Ebay

Post by rodpickett »

These 3 lots of Columbia cylinder records (3 records each) for the Wilshire Book Company caught my attention. Among those lots, the voice of Eugene Debs, a five time U.S. Socialist Party candidate for U.S. President, would make a nice addition to ones collection of historical recordings.

However, since I knew little about them, I decided to query the Antique Phonograph Society knowledgebase for any existing documentation regarding same.

Using the Search engine with two different criteria:
Gaylord Wilshire
Debs

I discovered several references. One in particular included a copy of an actual ad from the Columbia Phonograph Company that indicated all cylinder-sets were actually the voice of Len Spencer and not Eugene Debs or the other speech authors mentioned.


Just one more example demonstrating the value of Antique Phonograph Society membership.
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phonogal
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Re: Interesting Columbia Cylinders on Ebay

Post by phonogal »

Interesting that the records were the actual person but the cylinders were recorded by Spencer.

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Re: Interesting Columbia Cylinders on Ebay

Post by phonogfp »

phonogal wrote:Interesting that the records were the actual person but the cylinders were recorded by Spencer.
Hey - cylinders are records too! :)

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Re: Interesting Columbia Cylinders on Ebay

Post by coyote »

phonogal wrote:Interesting that the records were the actual person but the cylinders were recorded by Spencer.
The reason seems to be time constraints. Only the double-sided discs seem to be the original speakers. Presumably Spencer could speak faster or read an edited speech on the single-sided discs and cylinders.

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phonogfp
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Re: Interesting Columbia Cylinders on Ebay

Post by phonogfp »

I would be remiss if I didn't point out that just this single instance of the benefits of APS membership might well save its cost for over a decade!

George P.

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phonogal
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Re: Interesting Columbia Cylinders on Ebay

Post by phonogal »

phonogfp wrote:I would be remiss if I didn't point out that just this single instance of the benefits of APS membership might well save its cost for over a decade!

George P.
George. I agree. I'm already a member and have been for a while. Sometimes I just forget to use that asset. :D

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phonogfp
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Re: Interesting Columbia Cylinders on Ebay

Post by phonogfp »

phonogal wrote: George. I agree. I'm already a member and have been for a while. Sometimes I just forget to use that asset. :D
Me too! :oops:

George P.

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Re: Interesting Columbia Cylinders on Ebay

Post by rodpickett »

Copied / duplicated from a thread in the Music Section


The Columbia cylinder records currently listed on eBay are all recited by Len Spencer.

Per the Columbia Phonograph Company ad, referenced on the APS website:

The single-sided 10 inch records (two total) are recited by Len Spencer

The double-sided 10 inch records (three total) are recited by Wanhope, Mills and Wilshire. “They were actually spoken by Wanhope, Mills and Wilshire”

The cylinder records (3 speeches in three parts for 9 total) are recited by Len Spencer. “These records were written by Debs, Wanhope and Wilshire, but were spoken by Len Spencer, the man who makes so many records for the Columbia and Edison Phonograph Companies”

Therefore, I would assume there is no recitation, on disc or cylinder, by Debs himself.

I have not yet seen photos of the actual cylinders on the eBay listing so their condition cannot be confirmed.

I have heard from a reliable source that a set of cylinders like this, or the same set perhaps, sold on eBay in 2007 for a total exceeding $3,000.

An informed bidder can evaluate what exactly they are bidding on and how much they wish to bid, given reliable data.

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