The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Thanks for the new pics! I see it was recorded on the 24th of October: I couldn't see the 2 on the video. This suggests even more that it's a Guest and Merriman. The type face of the matrix number in the wax certainly says " Columbia " to me!
Fascinating. This recording, by the way, is the best sounding Guest and Merriman side that I've heard. Now, given my sample is from that presentation of Michael Biel's, that's not saying much, but the other examples are distorted beyond belief. So much so that it in listening to them you wonder why they would even try. This on the other hand would make an experimenter keep working!

Jim

Marcello wrote: I'd like to know who this singer was.

I haven't placed a solid guess. I'd be interested too.

One way to find out might be to look at who was working Columbia studios on that date, such as here...

http://www.78discography.com/COL1D.htm

Someone already working a record date may have been pressed into service to help make this test. And one could then mentally draw a line between voice and singer.

Bessie Smith was doing a date that day, cutting Whoa, Tillie Take Your Time but I don't think it's her on your record.

I agree with the above poster who says it looks like Columbia matrix script. Everything looks like a Columbia record except for the label.