coyote wrote:Interesting that the essay on tripe seems to have been around since the 1880s, so the reference to using tripe as a "bumper between cars" does not refer to an automobile car.
You are absolutely correct. The speaker on this early brown wax cylinder recording, Bill Nye, refers to "car" (in a typical Maine accent as "Cahh") so I was incorrect in assuming he was referring to an automobile but instead a railroad car.
And it turns out that this brown wax cylinder may be much more historically important than I had ever imagined.
One of the subscribers to my YouTube channel did some research online and found the following on Wikipedia about Edgar Wilson "Bill" Nye, a distinguished journalist and later humorist born in Shirley, Maine and passing in 1896.
It is now likely IMHO that this cylinder may have been recorded by this well known early humorist sometime before he passed in 1896. The brief 30 second or so "home recording" after the end of Bill Nye's recording on Tripe is likely the original owner of this cylinder and he decided to use the "free space" at the end of Nye's recording to record the note on the passing of "your Uncle Kilpatrick" probably for a relative to listen to.
This may be the only (who knows?) surviving cylinder or perhaps one of only a very few cylinder recordings by Edgar Wilson "Bill" Nye. Even though today we may not know much about him or his life and his contribution to American history, this cylinder may be important to those familiar with his legacy. It would be interesting to know if there are other surviving cylinder recordings by him.
Thankfully, this one is in very nice condition. Here is the Wikipedia entry:
From Wikipedia:
Edgar Wilson "Bill" Nye (August 25, 1850 – February 22, 1896) was a distinguished American journalist, who later became widely known as a humorist. He was also the founder and editor of the Laramie Boomerang.
Biography
Nye was born in Shirley, Maine. He was educated at River Falls, Wisconsin, moved to Wyoming Territory, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1876. He began early to contribute humorous sketches to the newspapers, using the pen name of "Bill Nye" after a character in a famous poem by Bret Harte popularly known as "The Heathen Chinee". He was connected with various western journals, and afterward settled in New York City.[1]
The Boomerang was founded while Nye was the postmaster of Laramie City, Wyoming Territory. It launched him to national fame, gaining subscribers in every state and some foreign countries. His humor was uniquely American. In 1892, he wrote in The Century Magazine:
There is a grim and ghastly humor -- the humor that is born of a pathetic philosophy -- which now and then strikes me in reading the bright and keen-witted work of our American paragraphers. It is a humor that may be crystallized by hunger and sorrow and tears. It is not found elsewhere as it is in America. It is out of the question in England, because an Englishman cannot poke fun at himself. He cannot joke about an empty flour-barrel. We can: especially if by doing it we may swap the joke for another barrel of flour. We can never be a nation of snobs so long as we are willing to poke fun at ourselves.
Some of his works include Bill Nye's Comic History of the United States, Baled Hay, Remarks, Bill Nye and Boomerang, Bill Nye's History of England, and Bill Nye's Red Book.
Late in his career, he was briefly associated with James Whitcomb Riley with whom he wrote two books. They also appeared together on the lecture circuit. He also travelled and lectured with Luther Burbank.
He died of meningitis in Arden, North Carolina. He is buried in Calvary Episcopal Churchyard in Fletcher,
Henderson County, North Carolina. A historical marker honoring him is located in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, between the towns of Roberts and River Falls, and a second is located in Fletcher, North Carolina. A small monument marks his birthplace in Shirley, Maine.
======== For Harvey and Sean ========
I will try to post some pics of my reproducer when I get a chance!
Thanks for your interest, Doug