The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

George Frow's great book tells us that the Special range of wax Amberols was launched in April 1910 to stimulate sales of same, and a customer buying a Standard combination attachment could get 10 of these for $6 as a package deal. In May 1911 UK customers were offered 5 Special Amberols and 5 two minute cylinders for £1 6s 0d (£1.30). The latter were packed in regular boxes but had red lettering and a different lid, this showing a 'Standard <letter>' label which was different to the catalogue number on the cylinder:





I guess the records were made at the Willesden, London factory, but can anybody confirm this? Were the two minute Specials available in the US, other than from the general catalogue?

Keith

Well, Allen Koenigsberg does mention, in a list of the Special Amberols, that after September 15, 1910, customers who had helped to influence the sale of a Phonograph could select either 6 of the 'D' series Amberols, or 9 2-minute records from a special list of 500 titles that were being discontinued.

No mention, though, of whether the 2-minute cylinders were marked in any way as 'special'....

Bill

Just to close the loop Wagnerian points me to George Frow's stunning book where he advises that these two minute standard sized records were offered in May 1911 to purchasers of 2/4 minute conversion sets. Five Amberols and five Standards could be had. The two minute titles went at least up to title "G". If a Standard conversion kit was bought the UK price was £1 16s. Thanks again, Mr Frow!

Keith

Curious,

To which Frow book are you referring to?


Thanks,


Tony K.

References to the offer in the UK only of 5 special Amberols and 5 standard cylinders to stimulate sales of the 4-minute conversion kits are in George Frow's "Edison Cylinder Phonograph Companion"(1994) and also in his "Guide to the Edison Cylinder Phonograph"(1970). A more direct reference is made in Frank Andrews' "Edison Phonograph - the British Connection" published in 1986 by the City of London Phonograph and Gramophone Society but now sadly out of print although sections relating to the 4-minute cylinder in Britain are to be reprinted as part of the CLPGS Reference Series in October this year.

Frank Andrews writes - "Nevertheless the British Company was aware of the apparent apathy towards Amberol records and in order to increase sales, in May 1911, offered 10 free records to the purchasers of the attachments that converted two-minute phonographs into four-minute machines. The records consisted of five Amberols and five Standard Edison Records. The Amberols were special issues and were unobtainable other than through the free offer."

Regards

Tim W-W