The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

SteveM wrote:

Wolfe wrote:I've been a Viva-Tonal fan. The sound of some of them. Don't know what that something is since in the 20's they were using Western Electric recording gear, same as Victor. Victors to me tend toward a "dryer" sound and better bass. But Columbias of the period have that midrange presence.

Indeed, I think I've heard it sometimes described as "boxy"(or maybe that's Harmony ... hmmm) ... definitely its own unique qualities. Yes, midrange!

Most Harmonys are acoustically recorded. Boxy they are but good for acoustically recorded.

Orchorsol wrote:

SteveM wrote:Does anybody have a favorite 12" Viva-tonal?

This could well be mine! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oV6o9NiY4nI

Indeed exceptionally well recorded, and unbelievably silent!

The lead photo is excellent! Could be made into a poster.

SteveM wrote:

marcapra wrote:Yes Columbia records can sound great. See my post on the Walter Piston quartet! And it has Percy Grainger playing piano! He's quite a composer in his own right.

It's so funny that we both had a post about Percy Grainger! I now need to find out much more about him!

I look out for Percy Grainger records too!

And I agree about the photo in your first post Steve - terrific. The UK issue of Clair De Lune has Grainger playing Debussy's Toccata on the other side - does it on yours? That's another favourite of mine - a ferocious performance.

SteveM wrote:
Interesting. I have a UK set that I *think* may be of similar vintage (hmmm ... I could be wrong though). The Viva-tonal (on the right) is 1.5 ounces heavier. Noticeably the heaviest record I own. Just a beast!

The laminated English Columbias pre-date the merger with Gramophone which resulted in the EMI company in 1931. From that time on, the lamination process was abandoned and all records, whether with Columbia or HMV labels, were pressed with the pre-merger Gramophone process. The shellac mix that they used was poor, which resulted in noisy background to most records, unfortunately. I think all pre-merger Columbia records had black labels, so what you have in the photo is a normal pressing, not laminated.

Orchorsol wrote:

SteveM wrote:

marcapra wrote:Yes Columbia records can sound great. See my post on the Walter Piston quartet! And it has Percy Grainger playing piano! He's quite a composer in his own right.

It's so funny that we both had a post about Percy Grainger! I now need to find out much more about him!

I look out for Percy Grainger records too!

And I agree about the photo in your first post Steve - terrific. The UK issue of Clair De Lune has Grainger playing Debussy's Toccata on the other side - does it on yours? That's another favourite of mine - a ferocious performance.

I found the disc and uploaded the Toccata side: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upgiKhjYNqY (unfortunately the Clair De Lune side is a slight swinger / eccentric pressing, and with its slower, more sustained notes the pitch variation is unpleasant).

orchorsol: the sound is incredible... But I've also listened to your other videos, and I'm astonished with the quality of the acoustic Columbia sides of Pau Casals playing the Bach pieces... They sound as electrical. It's clear that some engineers mastered the technique of acoustic recording, producing incredibly good recordings, very pleasant. Sometimes I marvel at how good some of them sound in a good gramophone.

Inigo wrote:orchorsol: the sound is incredible... But I've also listened to your other videos, and I'm astonished with the quality of the acoustic Columbia sides of Pau Casals playing the Bach pieces... They sound as electrical. It's clear that some engineers mastered the technique of acoustic recording, producing incredibly good recordings, very pleasant. Sometimes I marvel at how good some of them sound in a good gramophone.

Thanks Inigo! Yes, some of the acoustic recordings are just stunning when heard well.

Orchorsol wrote:

SteveM wrote:

marcapra wrote:Yes Columbia records can sound great. See my post on the Walter Piston quartet! And it has Percy Grainger playing piano! He's quite a composer in his own right.

It's so funny that we both had a post about Percy Grainger! I now need to find out much more about him!

I look out for Percy Grainger records too!

And I agree about the photo in your first post Steve - terrific. The UK issue of Clair De Lune has Grainger playing Debussy's Toccata on the other side - does it on yours? That's another favourite of mine - a ferocious performance.

Thanks very much and yes! And wow. The EMG brings out tones I didn't know were there.