This reminds me of a Favorite record of 1908 which I have somewhere, on which the bells of the Rathaus (Town Hall) of Munich play the hymn-tunes 'Lead kindly light' and 'Abide with me': a rare example of a 'location' recording from the acoustic age. The Munich 'carillon' consists of 43 bells and can be played either mechanically or from a keyboard; in 1908 it had just been completed, and indeed it was not put into full service until the following year. It still exists in working order.kirtley2012 wrote:I've got two weird ones, one, a french shellac test pressing of church bells . . .
Then there is a Nicole (brown celluloid) record of about 1906 on which the pioneer recording artist Steve Porter recites – speaking, not singing – nursery-rhymes while an unnamed assistant supplies animal noises, hoof-beats etc. Porter, a New Yorker as I understand, produces a flawless British accent.
Oliver Mundy.