Earliest Edison Matrix Number?

[Governor Flyball]

I was going through some Edison discs on the weekend. I noticed that "Un bel di vedremo" sung by Emmy Destin had matrix number of 890. That was the smallest I could find I had. I suspect this placed it as one of the earlier European recordings made about 1911.

Have you come across any lower matrix numbers? I am curious what the lowest number is in circulation.

[Governor Flyball]

I found the DAHR website had a list of the earliest matrices. There are many gaps so perhaps these are of discs issued?

I cut and pasted the list starting at the lowest 124 up to 1000. I found I had the earlier Anvil Chorus/Miserere 82516 which is relatively common.


Edison 124 10-in. 1/31/1910
Dir che ci sono al mondo Carmen Melis Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra
Edison 161 10-in. July 1911
Bonnie sweet Bessie Marie Narelle Soprano vocal solo and vocal ensemble, with orchestra
Edison 288 10-in. 9/23/1911
Serenata Albert Spalding Violin solo, with piano
Edison 539 10-in. Jan. 1911
Waltz song Constance Drever Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra
Edison 569 10-in. 3/21/1911
Darling Nellie Gray Vocal quartet (unidentified; Edison Records) Mixed vocal quartet
Edison 601 10-in. 4/11/1911
Ben Bolt Eleanora de Cisneros Mezzo-soprano vocal solo, with orchestra
Edison 613 10-in. 4/11/1911
A dream Eleanora de Cisneros Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra
Edison 616 10-in. 4/20/1911
Love's old sweet song Venetian Instrumental Quartet Instrumental quartet
Edison 652 10-in. 4/27/1911
The mocking bird : Fantasia Charles Daab Xylophone solo, with orchestra
Edison 682 10-in. 6/15/1911
Memories of home Venetian Instrumental Quartet Instrumental quartet
Edison 699 10-in. July 1911
Anvil chorus Light Opera Company [Edison] Mixed vocal chorus, with orchestra
Edison 812 10-in. 9/30/1911
Miserere Harry Anthony ; Agnes Kimball Vocal duet (soprano and tenor) and male vocal chorus, with orchestra
Edison 832 10-in. 10/19/1911
The heart bowed down Thomas Chalmers Baritone solo, with orchestra
Edison 836 10-in. 10/26/1911
Happy days Elizabeth Spencer Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra
Edison 858 10-in. between 11/20/1911 and 11/29/1911
Inflammatus Agnes Kimball Soprano vocal solo and vocal chorus, with orchestra
Edison 863 10-in. Nov. 1911
Tre giorni son che Nina Maria Labia Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra
Edison 887 10-in. 12/15/1911
Voi lo sapete Ema Destinnová Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra
Edison 890 10-in. 12/16/1911
Un bel dì vedremo Ema Destinnová Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra
Edison 893 10-in. 12/28/1911
Souvenir of Moscow André Benoist ; Albert Spalding Violin solo, with piano
Edison 937 10-in. Feb. 1912
Tancredi overture Orchestra (unidentified; Edison Records) Orchestra
Edison 938 10-in. Feb. 1912
L'elegante polka Charles Daab Xylophone solo, with orchestra
Edison 939 10-in. Feb. 1912
Whispering flowers Edison Concert Orchestra Instrumental ensemble
Edison 941 10-in. Feb. 1912
The fairest rose waltz Charles Daab Xylophone solo, with orchestra
Edison 947 10-in. ¾/1912
Every little movement Armand Vecsey Hungarian Orchestra Orchestra
Edison 950 10-in. ¾/1912
Entr'acte and waltz Armand Vecsey Hungarian Orchestra Instrumental ensemble
Edison 951 10-in. ¾/1912
Lukomi Armand Vecsey Hungarian Orchestra Instrumental ensemble
Edison 966 10-in. between 3/26/1912 and 3/27/1912
Semiramide overture American Symphony Orchestra Orchestra
Edison 975 10-in. between 4/1/1912 and 4/9/1912
Lucy Anna Lou Collins and Harlan Male vocal duet, with orchestra
Edison 977 10-in. 3/28/1912
Forosetta tarantella American Symphony Orchestra Orchestra
Edison 981 10-in. 3/28/1912
Carry me back to old Virginny Thomas Chalmers Male vocal solo and vocal ensemble, with orchestra
Edison 985 10-in. 4/10/1912
Sweet Genevieve Vernon Archibald Baritone vocal solo and mixed vocal ensemble, with orchestra
Edison 996 10-in. 4/16/1912
Ever of thee I'm fondly dreaming Thomas Chalmers ; Elizabeth Spencer Vocal duet (soprano and tenor), with orchestra
Edison 997 10-in. 4/15/1912
In happy moments Thomas Chalmers Male vocal solo, with orchestra
Edison 999 10-in. 4/18/1912
Berceuse Paulo Gruppe Cello solo, with piano
Edison 1001 10-in. 4/19/1912
No one to love Thomas Chalmers Male vocal solo, with orchestra.

[Governor Flyball]

I was looking for the earlier disc auditions I recall seeing somewhere. They had some of the earliest matrix numbers assigned and the discs were not released.

Instead I found these interesting cylinder auditions from the same period which are interesting to hear:

"The Edison Trials Voice Audition Cylinders 1912 1913 #1" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/boejU2qMP2I

[Wolfe]

The lowest matrix # (100) was assigned to a recording - Just Before The Battle, Mother by Will Oakland (presumably rejected) made in New York in July, 1910. This is the lowest # assigned to a matrix although it is not the earliest matrix # assigned. Recordings made on January 31, 1910, by Carmen Melis and Marguerite Sylva were given higher matrix #'s. I dunno why.

[Governor Flyball]

I was curious the earliest Edison disc matrix number issued. Does the DAHR list only the discs actually issued?

I suspect the diamond disc groove dimensions (which appears to be the same as the Amberol groove from 1908) and the groove pitch of 150 to the inch, must have been standardized early, say by 1910. So were any discs from 1910 actually issued?

[Wolfe]

The Carmen Melis record from 1910 is marked as available to stream on DAHR in the nearer future, so I would assume, yes, it was issued. Wonder what it was about that particular record that made Edison want to issue it, while hundreds of other recordings were rejected.