Remembering Leo Slezak

[VintageTechnologies]

If you don't believe how good Slezak can be, try his only Blue Amberol cylinder 28146 "E Lucevan Le Stelle" from Tosca and it will blow your socks off.

I have a near-mint copy and have to agree. Very few Blue Amberols can compare to it. However, despite his powerful voice, Slezak's interpretation falls well short of Caruso; he sings it straight, without the same emotion as Caruso.

[barnettrp21122]

Here's a rather interesting framed picture of Slezak playing the Hardman-Autotone player piano, circa 1910, alongside a testimonial (from another person entirely). I think it's kind of neat:

Leo Slezak, Hardman Autotone circa 1910 card.jpg (22.65 KiB) Viewed 1138 times

Bob

[alang]

Could you enlighten me re. the "SAS catalogue & sale"? I've not heard about it.

Here is the link: http://www.specialauctionservices.com/l ... page1.html
Looks like some stuff there.
Andreas

[Steve]

As far as I know, there is still plenty of interest in Edison and cylinder phonographs in the UK. It is just that we don't have a sensible forum in the UK where ordinary people would feel comfortable posting views and thoughts on Edison, cylinders or Diamond Discs; which is why many from the UK would rather post here and on the Edison Discussion Forum.

I agree in as much as the majority of people I meet appear to be more interested in Edison machines and cylinders than they are records and gramophones. I personally can not undertand why this should be but there is definitely a tendency for 'hands-on repairmen' to tinker more with phonographs than gramophones. Are they easier to repair / restore? I don't see why this should be but the fascination with all things cylinder connected is definitely here at the current time.

As for there being a forum, well there ARE places to discuss these things but most UK collectors I meet are not of the 'speaking out' type and prefer to hang out in their garden sheds than to keep their hands clean typing out words on internet fora!

Looking at the demographic today of archaic societies like the CLPGS it appears the membership are getting increasingly older with many members existing probably without the use of a PC. And why not? If you go back just 17 years, not many of us had computers, did we? We managed without them long enough. It's like cell phones but now they're a life-support machine for many. Anyway, a forum does exist for those nerdy enough to know how to use it if they wish ( ):

[Steve]

Here is the link: http://www.specialauctionservices.com/l ... page1.html Looks like some stuff there.

SAS Auctions is a UK based auction company, so that is why you probably aren't as familiar with them as you might wish to be! It rose to prominence after dealing with the late Roger Thorne's estate of gramophones/ phonographs, records etc. It takes me a LONG time to trawl through their sale catalogues though as they also sell film posters, LP's, music memorabilia etc.

[Valecnik]

Here is the link: http://www.specialauctionservices.com/l ... page1.html Looks like some stuff there.

SAS Auctions is a UK based auction company, so that is why you probably aren't as familiar with them as you might wish to be! It rose to prominence after dealing with the late Roger Thorne's estate of gramophones/ phonographs, records etc. It takes me a LONG time to trawl through their sale catalogues though as they also sell film posters, LP's, music memorabilia etc.

I had a look at thier auction list and, although I'm certain there are some real treasures there, it's impossible to judge unless one would go there for the inspection.

Descriptions like, "Box of about 20 cylinders including wax amberols, Slezak, Rappold, Chalmers" does not give one a lot to go on.

That's is not meant to be a criticism, just the way things are, especially with smaller, difficult to photograph, fragile items that are ~100 years old.

[Steve]

Descriptions like, "Box of about 20 cylinders including wax amberols, Slezak, Rappold, Chalmers" does not give one a lot to go on.

True! There is no substitute for being there in person. When I hear the auctioneer declare: "Selling to internet bidder" I wince sometimes thinking to myself "The poor ******! I hope they know what they just won".

[Wagnerian]

[quote]Anyway, a forum does exist for those nerdy enough to know how to use it if they wish ( ):


Thanks for the info, Steve, regarding the UK forum, however I think the exchange on Edison phonographs which took place on the forum just yesterday illustrates why many phonograph enthusiasts in the UK are reticent to post there.

"Deck Chair Harry" wrote: "The Colonel is not looking to buy a Standard - he is far too discriminating and discerning to bother with rubbish like that."

"The Colonel" responded by agreeing and ended with a non sequitur "So as usual those CLPGS members who say there is are talking rubbish about rubbish" ; thereby, sadly, alienating a large section of the UK collecting fraternity.

Tim W-W

[Steve]

I certainly am NOT - I've spent tens of thousands of Pounds on Phonographs and NEVER Found one that worked as well as a Gramophone - it's either the machine that won't revolve at a constant speed or the Cylinders are distorted

This is an interesting quote from the UK forum which precedes the quote shown before by 'wagnerian'. Has anyone got a response to it? I share his frustration when collectors attempt to demonstrate these machines working and to my ears they appear to be quite poor in relation to contemporary disc machines. I would be interested in the opinions of others here though!

Tim W-W, reading some of this stuff you referenced makes me realise that these gents are somewhat 'gently ribbing' the other member who misunderstood the original comment. I don't see it as serious or particularly condemning. I think they are enjoying a laugh at the seriousness with which some collectors apply their trades?

[VintageTechnologies]

Steve, I have collected both cylinder and disc machines for 45+ years and have my own subjective opinions about their comparison. The disc machines can often be a bit louder, if that is your only criteria. Some of the best Edison cylinder machines, properly adjusted, will indeed compete favorably against period disc machines, quality-wise. Several models, including the Opera, have a flywheel whose mass smooths out the fluttering sound completely. Most Gramophones with their large platters accomplish the same flywheel effect. Some Blue Amberol cylinders had plaster cores that were cast off-center and some have been mashed out-of-round. A good specimen is another story. Live-cut Blue Amberol cylinders (early issues and foreign series) have a loud, bright fidelity that matches or surpasses most period discs. The surface noise on a really clean Blue Amberol is so minimal that I prefer hearing them to Diamond Discs or most 78's. Until you hear a good one on an Opera, you have no idea what you've missed; it was state of the art in 1912. The cheaper machines, such as the Amberola 30, can't compare.