A Grandfather's Message - Cylinder recorded 1894

[GMEMG]

I found this cylinder amongst a box of 48 brown wax and other 2m cylinders at the Roger Thorne sale - as they were cheap i bought them (£24)

This one stood out as it was in a metal cannister and is only 3 58" long, brown wax and in good condition

When played it terned out to be a message from a Grandfather to his grandchildren - their mother (His Daughter) had died so he had recorded this message to them as he obviously didn't think he would live long enough to tell them personally and used the New medium of the Cylinder for his message.

They say the date 1894 and there are witnesses to the recording which was made in London.

It's the most interesting thing i have ever found and don't believe it should be in private hands but in a Museum.

The sad thing is we shall never know if the children heard it ......


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

[Marco Gilardetti]

Very interesting indeed, and I agree this cilynder has the potential to become a heart-moving display in some museum. Unfortunately most of the museums that I know spot towards the machines and the collections and the value of the items, as if they were just nice rare pieces of furniture and pastimes for rich men and such, and show little or no concern about the medium itself and the messages and culture it conveyed. But this might not apply to UK of course.

I remember a very old italian ad, perhaps by Columbia, which proposed the phonograph as an ideal device to preserve the voices of our relatives or to "write" a testament that could be heard by the true voice of who passed away. This is the first time that I hear a record from a man who took this suggestion seriously.

[briankeith]

This idea is probably next to impossible, unless there are names, etc. on the tube or on the cylinder itself, but it would be great to track down the family and give it to them. This is a great find, although I have heard of things like this happening before on home recorded brown wax cylinders here in the USA. Brian Keith

[Starkton]

Great find and very interesting recording! I like these early privately recorded cylinders very much. Please don't play it with your Excelsior, the reproducer of which is designed for moulded records.

[Valecnik]

Very nice, touching recording. I wonder at what point the children, grandchildren or other family members lost track of it, sold it with some junk or passed it on in some other way...

Amazing that it could have survived...

[epigramophone]

As a grandfather I found this extremely moving.

I hope you will never part with this cylinder, but if you do, it deserves to go to someone who really appreciates it's historical importance.

Thankyou for giving us all the opportunity of hearing it.

[Andersun]

Maybe the antique detectives would pursue it for a show!

[GMEMG]

It would be nice to think the Grandchildren heard this but i have a feeling it may have lain in some Solicitors office unplayed.

I don't think it could be classed as ahome recording as it was made in a London Office - they probably didn't lend their machines to private persons and so he had to go to them !

I don't think i should own it really and would willingly gove it to some institution who could look after it - it already has a crack which you can hear toward the end - i'm just glad to have given it publicity 117 years after it was made.

[Spun]

This is amazing, the fact that it's survived so long, and that the children it was meant for are now long gone. I'm fascinated with anything 19th century, and hearing this gave me chills, especially because it was such a personal thing.

I think it would be a daunting task trying to find its originator, but there's likely someone out there somewhere who would be willing to take it on.

Thanks for sharing, keep it safe.

[briankeith]

Can someone with good ears transcribe this recording to print for all of us that are very hard at hearing? (like me) I would love to read what is recorded on this cylinder. Thanks!