Columbia six inch machines and records

[Valecnik]

The offer to have some new 6 inch cylinders made up currently in Yankee Trader has piqued my curiosity about these machines and records. I believe the only machines designed to accommodate the 6 inch format were the BC, BM, BF(T), BG(T). Were there any more?

Also, is there a list available of titles offered in the six inch format? I know there were not many titles made.

[phonogfp]

The offer to have some new 6 inch cylinders made up currently in Yankee Trader has piqued my curiosity about these machines and records. I believe the only machines designed to accommodate the 6 inch format were the BC, BM, BF(T), BG(T). Were there any more?

There also was the BO.

George P.

[52089]

The offer to have some new 6 inch cylinders made up currently in Yankee Trader has piqued my curiosity about these machines and records. I believe the only machines designed to accommodate the 6 inch format were the BC, BM, BF(T), BG(T). Were there any more?

Also, is there a list available of titles offered in the six inch format? I know there were not many titles made.

At least one collector is very close to completing a set of 189:
http://www.capsnews.org/apn2011-1.htm

There is a list of the 85000 series on the Online Discography project:
http://www.78discography.com/ColCyl85000.htm

I can't find a listing for the 72000 series.

[ChuckA]

The offer to have some new 6 inch cylinders made up currently in Yankee Trader has piqued my curiosity about these machines and records. I believe the only machines designed to accommodate the 6 inch format were the BC, BM, BF(T), BG(T). Were there any more?

There also was the BO.

George P.

George,

Don't forget the under appreciated Model C, although not actually designed for the BC cylinders, it has the long mandrel to play them.


Chuck

[PeterF]

There also was the BO.

George P.

Singin' in the bathtub
Singin' for joy
Because I've got my Lifebuoy

Singin' in the bathtub
'Cause I know
That Lifebuoy helps to stop...
BO






CAUTION: Do not take Columbia 20th Century cylinder records into the shower with you. Severe damage may result. Berlin Phono Works 21st Century records, however, can be safely bathed.

[phonopal]

And don't forget about the one 'indestructible' selection that Vulcan Records has released just a few years ago. This one is still listed on their website, although it's currently out of stock.

There were also the celluloid 6" cylinders that were briefly manufactured by Imperial Records in the U.K. The only one I ever saw on eBay sold for quite a bit! I am not 100% certain that these will fit on a Columbia mandrel however. Would anyone here know?

[RefSeries]

I believe the 72xxx 'International' series of Columbia 20th Century cylinders were promotional titles, and possibly not for sale to the general public. I have a partial list below, but would welcome any gap filling titles:

72500 Columbia Orchestra Brunette polka
72501 Columbia Orchestra Tout feu tout flamme (Polka japonaise)
72502 Columbia Orchestra Oh! Les femmes (Celebre marche)
72503 Columbia Orchestra Sympathie
72504 Columbia Orchestra Modern style (Schottische)
72505 Not Issued?
72506 Columbia Orchestra Czarine, la - mazurka Russe
72507 Not Issued?
72508 Not Issued?
72509 Not Issued?
72510 Columbia Orchestra Cürasste-Attaque - galop

The six inch cylinders issued in the UK under the Imperial label were produced by Lambert in London and sold between August and November 1905, at which point Lambert ceased trading. The first issues were red, but they soon reverted to black celluloid, the same as the standard sized UK Lamberts. They will fit a Columbia six inch mandrel. They are very fragile, as I have learnt to my cost! Lambert marketed a range of machines to play the cylinders on, probably made in Germany, but these are predictably quite hard to find as the records to play on them were only around for a few months and by that time discs were in the ascendancy in the UK. Further details about the company and recordings of 6" Imperials can be found in CLPGS Reference Series No.9 at http://www.clpgs.org.uk/reference-series.html.

Hope this helps

Keith

[clevelander]

I have a Lambert Imperial 6" cylinder, The Toreador.
I have not been able to successfully play it as the composite core is about ¾" out of the cylinder. I have very gingerly tried to ream a bit of the material out but, as Keith states, these records can split at any time and I would rather leave well alone unless someone has any suggestions.
Regards,
Alistair.

[Lucius1958]

There also exists an unusual prototype of a possible third model of Higham "20th Century" Graphophones, with a smaller diaphragm than the BM.

Bill