A Multi Track HMV Limerick Record

[JHolmesesq]

Hi everyone,

I forgot I had this one, it was languishing in my record chest! It's a HMV Limerick Record which I thought you may be interested in. There are 6 sets of grooves on the outside, and 6 sets on the inside - a total of 36 different limerick combinations per side, so 72 for the whole record!

Given the nature of this record, I decided to film it rather than digitising it like I do with my other 78s. I have given just a small preview in my video, if you want I can film the flip side

[youtubehd]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIPHT3R1Dsg[/youtubehd]

[OrthoSean]

Hey, that's really cool! I need to look for a copy of that disc...would be something entertaining even for non-record / phono guests at a party!

Thanks for sharing!

Sean

[JHolmesesq]

It really is quite an ingenious idea. Perhaps next time I have a party I will dig it out

I did some digging and found a review of it in the December 1931 issue of "The Gramophone Magazine"

A good deal of ingenuity has been expended in devising records to amuse visitors or provide an excuse for some mild betting .... there is a much more ingenious if less exciting Limerick Puzzle Record (H.MV. B3986, 2s. Gd.) on which Claude Hulbert sings six different unfinished limericks on each side, while the inner grooves contain six last lines on each side. The effect is that by placing the needle in the various possible grooves, no less than 64 different limericks can be obtained!
This six-grooves-in-parallel arrangement enables H.M.V. also to provide a Tell your fortune record (133979, 2s. Gd.) with six alternatives for men or for women, according to the groove in which the needle is placed. This is good fun which might soon pall.

"Less exciting"?!?! I find this a wonder of record production technology, what were they thinking

[EdiBrunsVic]

Thank you for sharing that fascinating record! As a retired teacher, I enjoyed teaching limericks to my class. It was fun to listen to and to watch how you moved the needle from one part to the other. Thanks again!

[OrthoSean]

It really is quite an ingenious idea. Perhaps next time I have a party I will dig it out

I did some digging and found a review of it in the December 1931 issue of "The Gramophone Magazine"

A good deal of ingenuity has been expended in devising records to amuse visitors or provide an excuse for some mild betting .... there is a much more ingenious if less exciting Limerick Puzzle Record (H.MV. B3986, 2s. Gd.) on which Claude Hulbert sings six different unfinished limericks on each side, while the inner grooves contain six last lines on each side. The effect is that by placing the needle in the various possible grooves, no less than 64 different limericks can be obtained!
This six-grooves-in-parallel arrangement enables H.M.V. also to provide a Tell your fortune record (133979, 2s. Gd.) with six alternatives for men or for women, according to the groove in which the needle is placed. This is good fun which might soon pall.

"Less exciting"?!?! I find this a wonder of record production technology, what were they thinking

Thanks for the catalog number, now I can add it to the database I keep of things I want!

I can only the imagine the reactions of friends with this record on the HMV 163 after a few whiskeys

Again, thanks for this! I never would have known this existed!

Sean

[Swing Band Heaven]

Now this record looks like fun. I have never seen anything like it before. I've seen the standard puzzle records but never this.

S-B-H

[recordo]

That's great - the closest thing I've seen to it is the Regal Double Track record, but this is much more fun.

[JHolmesesq]

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it