The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

gramophoneshane wrote:My Indestructible reference lists the "Indestructible Military Band" as the artist on 1431, whoever they were

Yeah, you've got the older one, I assume. The new one is pretty thorough, I must say and says flat out that the old discography "took some liberties" by assuming names like that. As far as I've read, there haven't been any copies of catalogs or ads that have surfaced actually naming the "band", but that's moot. Since the recording studios were in New York City, they certainly could have used about anyone and would have had lots of choices. This leads me to wonder as well if they used musicians from other "bands" that may have otherwise had exclusive contracts with Edison, Victor or Columbia. I'm just speculating, but either way I highly recommend the new volume, it's fascinating reading! It also finally lays to rest a "mystery" regarding their special reproducer, which in original ad reprints clearly states it used a sapphire stylus, remember that?

Sean

OrthoSean wrote:

gramophoneshane wrote:It also finally lays to rest a "mystery" regarding their special reproducer, which in original ad reprints clearly states it used a sapphire stylus, remember that?

Sean

Okay, I missed something -- what was the mystery? I have two of those Indestructible reproducers and one of them has the original chisel shaped stylus. That sapphire appears very dark, unlike most clear sapphire stylii that I have seen.

I shouldn't have really said "mystery", but anyway, this was a few years ago and on another board, but it had been insisted by somebody that Indestructible reproducers were made with diamond styli rather than sapphire, I knew they weren't because I had seen and examined one up close at a show, but had nothing to really prove it. I'd have to look at the book again, but I think there were actually two variations, one was stricly a two minute stylus and the other a "universal" one which would play either. The ad text specifically says these were not meant to be used on wax cylinders.

EDIT: now that I'm home and was able to consult the book, there were two different reproducers made, the first was specifically for two minute cylinders and used a "wedge shaped sapphire", but the second style was marketed and branded by Columbia (it seems that it was also made by them) which used the "universal" stylus with the same shape, but it was a diamond. This one was never apparently branded as an "Indestructible" reproducer though. This must be the one you see with Columbia's two and four minute combination machines.

Sean