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Brunswick electrical records - when did they begin ?
Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 3:32 pm
by De Soto Frank
At Wayne, I picked-up nearly 3-dozen records, including a very nice Brunswick 10", black label with gold scroll, #3972:
Faust: Soldiers' Chorus
Flip-side:
Verdi / Geibel: Song of the Anvil
Performed by the "Famous Forty" Elks Chorus, BPOE No. 207; Edgar D. Brown director.
The "Song of the Anvil is performed a capella, and the Soldiers' Chorus is with piano accompaniment.
Both sides are VERY crisp, clear, and also fairly accomplished performances.
I am assuming this is an electrical recording, not an acoustic.
Did Brunswick's electrical recordings have a unique label, or other distinguishing marks ?
Thanks !
De Soto Frank
Re: Brunswick electrical records - when did they begin ?
Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 3:57 pm
by beaumonde
Br 3972 is definitely electric. Brunswick began their "Light-Ray" primitive electric process in about May-June, 1925 (at about 2900 in their black label catalog), and had significantly upgraded their technology by the time of these recordings, in 1928.
Here's the info from 78discrography.com:
3972 "FAMOUS FORTY" ELKS CHORUS B.P FAUST E27593 - - 05/??/28 -
3972 ELKS CHORUS SONG OF THE ANVIL E27597 - - 05/??/28
Re: Brunswick electrical records - when did they begin ?
Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 6:43 pm
by Phototone
They began at some time before they started sounding good, for sure!! That "Light-Ray" microphone was really bad.
Re: Brunswick electrical records - when did they begin ?
Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 6:58 pm
by Wolfe
Phototone wrote:They began at some time before they started sounding good, for sure!! That "Light-Ray" microphone was really bad.
They were't all so bad, but I think we've had this debate before.
Brunswick singed on with WE and yes, the sound improved very much. Some of those 1928-29 Brunswicks are powerful sounding.
Re: Brunswick electrical records - when did they begin ?
Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 11:29 pm
by De Soto Frank
Thanks all for the replies !
It's already one of my favorite discs !

Re: Brunswick electrical records - when did they begin ?
Posted: Sat Apr 27, 2013 3:39 pm
by rgordon939
If anyone is interested in some other Brunswick 10 inch records let me know. I have the following and maybe some others:
2438-A "SWINGING DOWN THE LANE"
2438-B "WHO'S SORRY NOW"
2333-A "SANTA CLAUSE HIDES IN THE PHONOGRAPH"
2333-B "CHRISTMAS MORNING AT CLANCEY'S"
2459-A "PAPA BETTER WATCH YOUR STEP"
2459-B "SOMEBODY'S WRONG"
3281-A "PLAY GYPSIES, DANCE GYPSIES"
3281-B "TWO LITTLE BLUEBIRDS"
3775-A "GOLDEN GATE"
3775-B FOUR WALLS"
2920-A "TELL MOTHER I'LL BE THERE"
2920-B "MEET MOTHER IN THE SKIES"
3026-A "LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO MY ROSIE"
3026-B "I WANT TO SEE A LITTLE MORE OF WHAT I SAW IN ARKANSAS"
3992- "THE SIDEWALKS OF NEW YORK"
3992- "MEDLEY OF OLD TIMERS 1-DAISY BELL, 2-SWEET ROSY O'GRADY, 3-AFTER THE BELL"
I have not gone through all the records in the collection I bought but I am sure there are more. If there are any records that your are looking for Victor, Columbia. Pathé. etc let me know and as I go throught them I will let you know. I will post a spreadsheet of them all when I get it done. About a 1000 to 1500 records.
Rich Gordon
Rich Gordon