HMV Victrola Berliner 95209 - Martha, Presto Presto

[Lah Ca]

I pulled this disk out of my new boxes of records, a Canadian His Master's Voice/Victrola/Berliner single-sided 12" recording of Martha--Presto, presto with Alda, Jacoby, Caruso, Journet, and the Victor Orchestra.

Apart from the musical interest of the record and the fact that it is in remarkably good condition, there is the fact that it cost $6.00 in about 1912!

Constant dollar figures seem not to be calculated for Canada before 1914, but assuming Canadian and US dollar parity in 1912, we would get a price of $186.70 in 2023 US money.

In 1914 Canadian dollars, we would have a 2023 price of over $150 Canadian dollars.

Union jobs in the US in 1912 paid between ¢29 and ¢45 an hour. A good annual salary seems to have been between $600.00 and $1,200.00 a year.

Wow! Who bought this record?

[VanEpsFan1914]

Union jobs in the US in 1912 paid between ¢29 and ¢45 an hour. A good annual salary seems to have been between $600.00 and $1,200.00 a year.

Wow! Who bought this record?

Rich people. Very rich people bought these records. Infamously the "Lucia" Sextet recording on Victor Red Seal sold for $7 originally.

To this day, audiophiles still think the fun is increased if it costs more.

[Lah Ca]

To this day, audiophiles still think the fun is increased if it costs more.

Yes, indeed.

When I bought my lovely Clear Audio turntable, the sales person tried to sell me very expensive wall electrical outlets with gold-plated (the illegible coloured words say "gold-plated") contacts that somehow mystical improve one's listening experience.

He also tried selling me a set of $300 magical beanie bags that when placed on top of one's speakers mystically enhance one's sound stage and stereo imaging. He was slightly contemptuous of me when he put them on the very nice B&W speakers being demoed and I confessed that I could not hear any difference whether they were on or off. I guess I just wasn't one of the more-on types.