Brunswick electrical records - when did they begin ?

[De Soto Frank]

At Wayne, I picked-up nearly 3-dozen records, including a very nice Brunswick 10", black label with gold scroll, #3972:

Faust: Soldiers' Chorus

Flip-side:

Verdi / Geibel: Song of the Anvil

Performed by the "Famous Forty" Elks Chorus, BPOE No. 207; Edgar D. Brown director.

The "Song of the Anvil is performed a capella, and the Soldiers' Chorus is with piano accompaniment.

Both sides are VERY crisp, clear, and also fairly accomplished performances.

I am assuming this is an electrical recording, not an acoustic.

Did Brunswick's electrical recordings have a unique label, or other distinguishing marks ?

Thanks !

De Soto Frank

[beaumonde]

Br 3972 is definitely electric. Brunswick began their "Light-Ray" primitive electric process in about May-June, 1925 (at about 2900 in their black label catalog), and had significantly upgraded their technology by the time of these recordings, in 1928.

Here's the info from 78discrography.com:

3972 "FAMOUS FORTY" ELKS CHORUS B.P FAUST E27593 - - 05/??/28 -
3972 ELKS CHORUS SONG OF THE ANVIL E27597 - - 05/??/28

[Phototone]

They began at some time before they started sounding good, for sure!! That "Light-Ray" microphone was really bad.

[Wolfe]

They began at some time before they started sounding good, for sure!! That "Light-Ray" microphone was really bad.

They were't all so bad, but I think we've had this debate before.

Brunswick singed on with WE and yes, the sound improved very much. Some of those 1928-29 Brunswicks are powerful sounding.

[De Soto Frank]

Thanks all for the replies !

It's already one of my favorite discs !

[rgordon939]

If anyone is interested in some other Brunswick 10 inch records let me know. I have the following and maybe some others:

2438-A "SWINGING DOWN THE LANE"
2438-B "WHO'S SORRY NOW"

2333-A "SANTA CLAUSE HIDES IN THE PHONOGRAPH"
2333-B "CHRISTMAS MORNING AT CLANCEY'S"

2459-A "PAPA BETTER WATCH YOUR STEP"
2459-B "SOMEBODY'S WRONG"

3281-A "PLAY GYPSIES, DANCE GYPSIES"
3281-B "TWO LITTLE BLUEBIRDS"

3775-A "GOLDEN GATE"
3775-B FOUR WALLS"

2920-A "TELL MOTHER I'LL BE THERE"
2920-B "MEET MOTHER IN THE SKIES"

3026-A "LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO MY ROSIE"
3026-B "I WANT TO SEE A LITTLE MORE OF WHAT I SAW IN ARKANSAS"

3992- "THE SIDEWALKS OF NEW YORK"
3992- "MEDLEY OF OLD TIMERS 1-DAISY BELL, 2-SWEET ROSY O'GRADY, 3-AFTER THE BELL"

I have not gone through all the records in the collection I bought but I am sure there are more. If there are any records that your are looking for Victor, Columbia. Pathé. etc let me know and as I go throught them I will let you know. I will post a spreadsheet of them all when I get it done. About a 1000 to 1500 records.

Rich Gordon

Rich Gordon