Edison 2 minute cylinder question

[Gramtastic]

Hi, Please forgive this if everyone else on here knows the answer but I am quite confused by variations of Edison 2 minute cylinders. I assumed the first black ones were just called "Edison Record" and then when gold moulding came in they became "Gold moulded Records" but some have the "Echo all over the world" on them and others don't - Why ? Then I came across one called "Edison Standard record" which has later patent dates than the gold moulded ones.Does this mean they stopped the gold Moulding process ? I have put some in the photo in order of latest patent date - is this a correct chronology ? and did the gold moulding process stop and revert to "Standard" ? If there is a simple article you could point me to which explains these variations I would be grateful - trying to search the net or even this forum for Edison Standard just brings up hundreds of references to the Standard machine !!
Thanks
Andrew

[52089]

You'll find this thread helpful:

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... ilit=boxes

[phonogfp]

Andrew,

There are a number of variations of the Edison 2-minute cylinder box; several more than you show in your photo. These variations can be seen at the back of Allen Koenigsberg's Edison Cylinder Records, 1889-1912.

The earliest box you show is the bluish one (second from left) which packaged the first Gold Moulded cylinders wrapped in cotton. Next chronologically in your picture (but not in Edison box chronology) is the second from the right with the brown top and bottom. Next in your picture is the leftmost box labeled "Edison Record." The latest box in your picture is the rightmost, labeled "Edison Standard Record." This was to differentiate it from the 4-minute Edison Amberol Records manufactured from 1908. I've left out the middle box in your picture because that's a European release and I'm not well versed in those. However, I believe it dates between the two boxes which flank it. By placing the leftmost box between the rightmost and the second-from-the-right, you I believe you would have these particular boxes in chronological order.

George P.

EDIT: the thread above beat me to it, and should answer all your questions.

[Gramtastic]

Thanks for your help ! Do you know why the "Echo all over the world" seemed to come and go ?

[phonogfp]

Echos will do that...

The Edison companies seemed to struggle for a trademark (something a bit more lovable than Edison's signature) over the years. Around 1901, the image of a youngster wielding a hatchet "Looking For The Band" in an Edison Standard was appearing in Edison advertisements, but that was soon discarded. Edison's face in the horn of a Phonograph was prominent in advertising for just a few years. "The Old Couple" was used extensively in the 1905-1907 period, but likewise went by way. No one ever succeeded in matching the popularity of that little terrier.

George P.

[clevelander]

And they had that option!