The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Does anyone know what the last cylinder number is?

According to Sutton's book the last issue was 5719 "If I had You" - John Gart (Lowe's Valencia Theater Organ)

Released in June 1929, it was one of only two dubbed from a needle cut master.

Ron Dethlefson's second book on Blue Amberols shows the Edison stock card for 5719. Of 100 copies ordered, only 25 were ever pressed.

The late 1929 cylinders were not ordered in quantities over 100. Most had far fewer copies actually pressed, and at least one (5715) was not pressed at all. Dethlefson does show that 5713 had 109 copies pressed and 5716 had 102.

Dethlefson also notes that by May 1926 (approx. number 5154), the average quantity pressed was only 800, and obviously it went downhill quickly from there. There are definite exceptions , like the (relatively) common Vernon Dalhart titles in the 5000 range, but overall, late cylinders are pretty hard to find, and the later they are, the harder to find. I myself have only ever seen two from the 5700 range in person.

So anything in the 5700's would be pretty rare? Is any of them good Fox Trots or worth hearing?

A copy of 5700 sold on ebay recently for $787.87. The seller was a member of this board.

Yes, there are several fox trots and some good Billy Murrays in the very late numbers. You are far more likely to find any of them on Diamond Disc (if they were issued in that format) than on cylinder.

There are several online and print discographies for Edison cylinders. You might start with the Truesound Transfers site, then try ebay, Amazon, etc.

BTW, numbers were actually assigned from 5720 to 5732, but none of those were ever pressed.

Thanks guys.

Also worth your time is The Edison Discography (1926-29) by Raymond A. Wile:
http://www.mainspringpress.com/book_ED2629.html

It gives detailed information on every Edison matrix from January 1926 until recording ended on 19 Oct. 1929, including Blue Amberol issues and dubbing matrix numbers.

Incidentally, here's a 1937 photo demonstrating that even then, some people were still listening to cylinders:
http://www.shorpy.com/node/14230

Harold Aherne wrote:Also worth your time is The Edison Discography (1926-29) by Raymond A. Wile:
http://www.mainspringpress.com/book_ED2629.html

It gives detailed information on every Edison matrix from January 1926 until recording ended on 19 Oct. 1929, including Blue Amberol issues and dubbing matrix numbers.

Incidentally, here's a 1937 photo demonstrating that even then, some people were still listening to cylinders:
http://www.shorpy.com/node/14230

Wile's 1926 - 29 Edison discography is great. I really hope he does 1912-1925 at some point although I'm not sure it's even being planned.