The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

audiophile102 wrote:The older black label Edison records are fun, but the newer white paper label Edison records benefit from a technological improvement in the recording technique. Later still Edison used electrical equipment to record and they sound even better. The black label records are low cost on eBay, but the white label ones can be very expensive. Search YouTube and hear the difference.

Some of the early etched-label discs, made by the "transfer" process (such as the "Home Sweet Home" selection above), are amazing to hear, though, IF you can find them in excellent condition. They have very little surface noise, and the sound can be quite good.

Unfortunately, the early discs were also extremely sensitive to humidity, and are often found with surface splits. They were also more complicated and costly to produce; so Edison went over to the "direct" pressings.

- Bill

dzavracky wrote:An Edison disc lot wouldn’t be complete without Hawaiian guitar!

David

No disc lot would be complete without Hawaiian guitar. Hawaiian music was a craze back then, and everybody jumped on the bandwagon recording Hawaiian ditties by the likes of Louise and Ferrera--in whose case, as one acquaintance once quipped, "Hawaiian music played by guys with Italian names."

Bill Lucius,

Could you expand on the "transfer process " and how it differed from recording a master, making molds, and then pressing Diamond Discs.

Marc

Marc Hildebrant wrote:Bill Lucius,

Could you expand on the "transfer process " and how it differed from recording a master, making molds, and then pressing Diamond Discs.

Marc

In the "transfer process", the recording was pressed onto a sheet of celluloid coated with Condensite varnish; this was then bonded to the core. In the "direct" process, the core itself was coated with varnish, and the record pressed on that.

Sometimes, on "transfer" discs, you can see little indentations at the outer edge: these were to help bond the surface to the core.

- Bill

Bill,

Thanks for the information on the Diamond Disc manufacture. Where did you find such interesting information ?

Marc

You may want to check out my YouTube channel which has Diamond Disc recordings from before the general release up through the final releases in 1929.
https://www.youtube.com/user/thesegoto80/videos


You may also want to find a copy of the "Collector's Guide to Edison Records" by Copeland and Sherman. It's a thin volume but covers the development and history of the Diamond Disc quite well.

52089 wrote:...You may also want to find a copy of the "Collector's Guide to Edison Records" by Copeland and Sherman. It's a thin volume but covers the development and history of the Diamond Disc quite well.

Back in September, I bought one from what was said to be a box of copies right here on the forum through the Yankee Trader section. The posting drew few replies, so I'd guess some may still be available. Here's the thread: viewtopic.php?f=19&t=46769&hilit=guide+edison

"Quite well" is an understatement; it contains a wealth of detailed information about how the manufacturing process changed and the consequences of those changes throughout the product's lifetime.

Marc Hildebrant wrote:Bill,

Thanks for the information on the Diamond Disc manufacture. Where did you find such interesting information ?

Marc

As others have mentioned, it's from the "Collector's Guide"

- Bill

52089 wrote:You may want to check out my YouTube channel which has Diamond Disc recordings from before the general release up through the final releases in 1929.
https://www.youtube.com/user/thesegoto80/videos


You may also want to find a copy of the "Collector's Guide to Edison Records" by Copeland and Sherman. It's a thin volume but covers the development and history of the Diamond Disc quite well.

I came across your You Tube channel a few days ago and immediately hit the subscribe button. It's not easy recording and uploading all those videos. I just want to say thanks.