The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Are any of the old studios/factories/warehouses still around from back in the day? (not still serving their original purpose of course). I'm surfing around Google Street View and it would be cool to see what these places look like now.

I know that the Grey Gull office building is still there (on Huntington Avenue in Boston), as well as their warehouse (near Broadway Station in South Boston), but unfortunately, I do not have addresses on either—you’ll have to get that information from John.

I imagine other buildings that were used as studios/factories/warehouses have survived, also, although I could not provide addresses.

Anyone else know any of them?

— MordEth

The facade of "Thomas A Edison Inc" still stands at 364-372 Kent St, Sydney, and right next door at 360-362 was the Rexonola warehouse/factory.
Sydney's first recording studio, which opened in Oct 1926 still stands on the corner of Parramatta Rd and Columbia Lane, Homebush, Sydney.

The Gennett studios still stand (and from what I understand, are being restored) at the site of the Starr Piano Factory in Richmond, Indiana!

-Wyatt

The Canadian Branch of the Columbia Graphophone Company here in Toronto has recently become condo-ized out on Sauraren Ave. Remember I posted pics of it on the old board!
The Berliner Factory...and later RCA Victor...in Montreal is still standing. The Berliner Museum has a space in so one can tread the boards.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, I find it profoundly sad that Eldridge Johnson's little machine shop -- that the entire VTMCo grew up around -- is gone.
John M

From a somewhat later, but still 78 (and 33), era, the old Capitol Records pressing plant building in Scranton is still standing, vacant as of now, at least it was the last time I was up that way a few months ago. I'll check it again next time I go up there and get photos, but be advised I'm still using film so don't hold your breath for images to appear here.

Of course, the Academy of Music in Philadelphia is still very much with us, alive and well, the oldest concert hall (opera house) still in use in America for its original purpose (opened 1857). The Phila. Orch. made some recordings there back in the Stokie days, but others were made in a Masonic Temple (demolished) on N. Broad St. (not to be confused with the still-extant Masonic building next to City Hall). Some years ago, the movie "Age of Innocence" used both exterior and interior of the Academy for their authentic "period" look.

Folks,

Here are my Grey Gull photos once again.

The original GG offices were located at 693 Tremont St. in the South End. It was a typical four story brick rowhouse of the area from what I have gathered. It was located either where this modern branch library now stands or the small park to the left of it.


The offices were moved in July of 1920 to 295 Huntington Ave.in the Back Bay. This building was originally built as a free surgical hospital for women by a maker of patent medicine called Murdock's Liquid Food. It also was a hotel for a short period. It remains a mixed commercial/residential building to this day. It has been recommended for inclusion in two landmark districts.


GG also had a factory in South Boston on Dorchester Ave. This site was used for a parking lot for Court Sq. Press for most of my life. A new and ugly "green" building has recently arisen there.

GG also had another factory building located in the South End that I have yet to photograph. I do not know what is currently standing at that location. As soon as the weather gets nice I'll make the trek over there.

Regards,
John