Best books on cylinders ?

[mjbarnes]

For Edison I already have Dethlefson's two volumes on Blue Amberols. Are there other books that tell more about the records or the artists?

For Indestructible and US Everlasting there is not much online. Wikipedia articles are short. What are the best sources to read about these companies, their catalogues, and recording artists?

Thanks!

[phonogfp]

Kurt Nauck and Allan Sutton wrote a good book on Indestructible and Everlasting records (Mainspring Press). I expect it's out of print now (after all, EVERYTHING can be found for free online, right?), but a Google search will help you.

Here's one:
https://78rpm.com/products/indestructib ... derography

Good luck - -

George P.

[ChesterCheetah18]

I agree with George. Excellent book. Highly recommended.

Steve

[gramophone-georg]

I saw the title of this thread and immediately thought "WOW. Unless they are short stories, this could get overwhelming fast!"

[Valecnik]

These two are also must haves in my opinion:

"Edison Two Minute and Concert Cylinders"
https://adp-assets.library.ucsb.edu/edison_2m-cyls.pdf

"Edison Four Minute Cylinders"
https://adp-assets.library.ucsb.edu/edison_4m-cyls.pdf

[Inigo]

I saw the title of this thread and immediately thought "WOW. Unless they are short stories, this could get overwhelming fast!"

The murder is the butler.

[Wagnerian]

You could always try the CLPGS Reference Series publication number RS6 "The Ultimate Cylinder Handbook".

The 2025 edition has just been published, listing histories of 50 different cylinder manufacturers and over 78,000 cylinders detailed on the accompanying CD-Rom. All this for a budget price of £16.00 GBP including worldwide postage and packing. Details can be found on www.clpgs.org.uk then click on "shop" then click on "Reference Series" and scoll down to RS6.
If you scoll down further you will find other more in depth histories of cylinder companies (mostly European and UK) such as Lambert, Sterling, Clarion and Pathé plus the complete Edison Royal Purple 29,000 series on 4 CDs plus a booklet.

All the best

Tim W-W

[mjbarnes]

These two are also must haves in my opinion:

"Edison Two Minute and Concert Cylinders"
https://adp-assets.library.ucsb.edu/edison_2m-cyls.pdf

"Edison Four Minute Cylinders"
https://adp-assets.library.ucsb.edu/edison_4m-cyls.pdf

Thanks for these which I downloaded and added to my iBooks.

[mjbarnes]

You could always try the CLPGS Reference Series publication number RS6 "The Ultimate Cylinder Handbook".

The 2025 edition has just been published, listing histories of 50 different cylinder manufacturers and over 78,000 cylinders detailed on the accompanying CD-Rom. All this for a budget price of £16.00 GBP including worldwide postage and packing. Details can be found on www.clpgs.org.uk then click on "shop" then click on "Reference Series" and scoll down to RS6.
If you scoll down further you will find other more in depth histories of cylinder companies (mostly European and UK) such as Lambert, Sterling, Clarion and Pathé plus the complete Edison Royal Purple 29,000 series on 4 CDs plus a booklet.

All the best

Tim W-W

And thanks for this lead as well. Curious how many of us can play all sorts of cylinders, but I for one long ago got rid of any means of playing cds. I wonder if the seller might consider an old-fashioned book printed on paper? Or a paid download?