The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

A forest for the trees moment.
Thanks.

Just like the logo on the label!

If it has a START arrow, and it is recorded at 33.3 rpm. Then it for sure is a sound disc for sync sound for a movie (short subject).

A lot of radio transcription disks from the 1930's have a similar start arrow marked in the wax....but although those are also recorded at 33rpm and are often centre start...the ones I have are also 16 inches in size.

Swing Band Heaven wrote:A lot of radio transcription disks from the 1930's have a similar start arrow marked in the wax....but although those are also recorded at 33rpm and are often centre start...the ones I have are also 16 inches in size.

Correct and thanks for pointing that out, you beat me to it! There are also transcriptions like World, for example, that are 12 inch and have the same arrow, same with some Western Electric / Bell Telephone transcriptions.

I think the only way anyone will really know what the disc in question is would be to hear it. There were Columbia Radio discs floating around in the late 1920s, although the only ones I've seen have labels that say they're intended for radio use. I'd certainly like to hear this one.

Sean

I found the appropriate turntable to play this record at the correct 331/3. It is the same performance as the usual recording, nothing additional. Kaufman sings the song in a ballad-like fashion. A nice recording. What looked like a grommet on the center hole in the picture of the back of the disc is just the ceiling light reflecting from the record. The record appears as a standard 10 inch Columbia, just single sided and plays from inside-out at 33 ⅓.

pianolist wrote:I found the appropriate turntable to play this record at the correct 331/3. It is the same performance as the usual recording, nothing additional. Kaufman sings the song in a ballad-like fashion. A nice recording. What looked like a grommet on the center hole in the picture of the back of the disc is just the ceiling light reflecting from the record. The record appears as a standard 10 inch Columbia, just single sided and plays from inside-out at 33 ⅓.

Unique item.

Sorry that no one has appeared to really solve this mystery yet.

What kind of stylus did you use to play it?

Interesting. I vote theatre use then. There were discs pressed that were intended to be played for exit / entry to the theatre. This seems like the most likely story for this. I would guess that it plays with a standard 78 stylus as almost any disc from that era would.

Sean

I have a double sided Columbia Viva-Tonal. I am attaching photos of both sides.

Rich Gordon

Looks like somebody drilled out the spindle hole to fit a Standard machine. There's nothing unusual about a double sided Viva Tonal record, though, honestly.

Sean

It may be drilled out but I sure would love to have it.Great record ............

Jerry F Bacon