Brown wax question

[TinfoilPhono]

The earliest brown wax cylinders are not merely rare (and sometimes the only surviving copy), they are important relics of early recording history. These are often from the very beginning of commercial recording, before records were copied by pantograph, and well before they were molded in quantities. Preserving them for future generations is very important.

To their credit, two of the most serious record collectors in the US recognize that fact, and have made arrangements for their own collections (acquired at huge expense) to go institutions where they will be preserved -- and shared. One has arranged with the Library of Congress to acquire his vast collection. The largest collection of early brown wax in the world will go to the University of California - Santa Barbara (https://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu). These are collectors who are more interested in preservation than ownership, and I salute them for it.

[paradroid1793]

Check this out...

viewtopic.php?p=334132&hilit=north+amer ... rs#p334132

Wow. Those sold for a ton. I still don't get why so much though. For a song no one has ever heard of I think it is a little bit insane anyone would pay that.

It appears to be from the Unique Quartette, some brief research shows that they were the first black band on records, while Louis Vasner was black in general on record, and George W. Johnson was the first mass-success. Still an insane price, but their recordings & Vasner's are very, very scarce. Johnsons are rare, but can be found with effort and patience.