A Short Review of "The Sound Box" Issue March 2011

[Starkton]

Again, René Rondeau had a good hand to edit a nice selection of fascinating and well researched articles from all areas of our hobby - or better, passion.

Edison’s laboratory notes are nearly always dated exactly to the day, to provide for evidence in lawsuits. Researchers use these dates and rely on them. In the first part of his article Patrick Feaster demonstrates convincingly that many dates are far from being reliable. This makes him question the famous laboratory note of July 18, 1877 which commonly marks the day on which Edison invented the phonograph. Follow Patrick through his detective work in "A New Take on Edison’s First Playback of Sound“, at the end of which waits a pot of gold in the shape of an, so far, unnoticed even earlier document.

Shawn O’Rourke presents the coin operated Columbia AS, introduced in 1898, in the fifth article in a richly illustrated series on these rare and always high in demand breed of phonographs, explaining in detail how they work. Shawn has restored and examined many machines over the years and knows every detail. After reading his article you are firmly convinced to really understand the structure and function of the Columbia AS.

Next comes the third part of a detailed survey about the development of Emile Berliner’s Gramophone to a marketable product. Read about early demonstrations in Berlin before a handful of paying visitors, and the founding of the first Gramophone company worldwide. The portrayal of a completely unknown Gramophone model which served as a pattern for the subsequent mass production is a particular highlight. Pictures of this study model and also of the workmen who manufactured it in Joseph Berliner’s Hanoverian telephone factory in early 1890 are provided for the first time.

Rudolph Valentino’s Brunswick Panatrope is the finest example of Brunswick cabinetry you could imagine. Robert Baumbach is privileged to examine this lovely machine, distinguished by beautiful marquetry, done in exotic woods. Indeed "A Phonograph Fit for a Sheik“. The sudden longing to see the showside in full colour is immediately satisfied by a the large-size image on the backcover. That we owe to René’s far-sightedness.

George F. Paul traces the life and work of Peter Weber. Although Weber's designs and inventions are to be found in virtually every collection of pre-1915 talking machines, the man responsible for this is almost forgotten. Born in 1860 in Germany, Weber came alone to the United States at age sixteen, unable to speak English. From 1884 he began working at the Edison Machine Works and subsequently moved up the career ladder because of his unlimited talents. Peter Weber approved the designs of all Edison-manufactured items, before he finally left the Edison universe!

Urban archeologist Allen Koenigsberg leaves no stone unturned to collect bits and pieces for his newest stories. A handful of "mousy" tickets illustrating his article inspired Allen to unfold a bouquet of little stories about early phonograph exhibitors and others, involved in the talking machine craze around or before 1900. Allen's creativity and persistence not stop short of his standard work on Edison cylinder records; in the second part of "Musings, Updates, and Ramblings" 40 years of filling the data gaps are summarized.

The Sound Box closes with a note of John Levin that part 2 of "Recorded Incunabula" was just posted on the Cylinder Preservation and Digitization Project (CPDP) site.

Starkton

Here is a link: http://www.ca-phono.org/sound_box.html

[SonnyPhono]

Good timing...I joined CAPS yesterday. I look forward to my first issue of "The Sound Box".

[phonogfp]

Congratulations, Sonny - - if you enjoy historical information, I'm sure you'll enjoy The Sound Box. Stephan's article on the development of the Berliner Gramophone is a good example. Last month I thought I must have seen photos of every Berliner Gramophone ever built, but there in 2 modern photos is a Berliner unlike any other I've seen. It's great to learn about stuff like this, and this journal is a wonderful resource. Valentino's Panatrope is a knock-out! I could go on, but you'll soon find out first-hand. Maybe you'll let us know what you think after your March issue arrives?

George P.

[SonnyPhono]

Thanks, George. I have just about run out of phonograph books to buy as I have just about all of them. So I am excited to have new tangible reading material on the subject. This quarter's issue sounds really interesting and I will be happy to comment on my first issue.

[Valecnik]

Sonnyphono,

As a long time member, I also think you'll enjoy the publication.

It's great bedtime reading (for after you get the little ones to sleep).

[SonnyPhono]

Sonnyphono,

As a long time member, I also think you'll enjoy the publication.

It's great bedtime reading (for after you get the little ones to sleep).

Unfortunately, our new one has his nights and days mixed up. Sleep is a valuable commodity at this point! Hopefully that will be adjusted by the time I receive this quarter's issue.

By the way, when should I expect to see it in the mail? Has it already been sent to others? The only reason I ask is because I just signed up a few days ago.

[phonogfp]

By the way, when should I expect to see it in the mail? Has it already been sent to others? The only reason I ask is because I just signed up a few days ago.

Sonny,

If you paid online, you should be receiving it within a few days. If you sent a check paper mail, it will naturally take a bit longer.

George P.

[SonnyPhono]

I received my copy of "The Sound Box" a couple day ago and am very pleased. I am used to reading about phonographs online and in books so it was a nice change to have new material that was written recently. All of the articles were well written and covered many aspects of the hobby.

I am looking forward to the next issue and recommend joining CAPS if you haven't already done so.