The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hey, folks!

I started taking a closer look at the cylinders I have that came with my Home, and finally began the task of cataloguing and assessing their condition. No simple task, as I am sure you are all aware of!

For 3 days, I've been trying to make some sense out of them and I think I've been succesful of at least getting some understanding of what I have. I found a few that were basically just remnants, broken into shards, they have been that way for decades unknown to me. I found many that were a tease, complete and tempting, but covered with mold. I found a few that are in outstanding condition, and I found a lot of mysteries.

The first 2 days were a great learning experience. Researching for titles on the internet was at first frustrating, but eventually, I settled into 3 sites that seemed to offer valid information.

One of my favorites, just in time for Christmas is, "O Tannenbaum", which as best I can determine, is an Edison Goldguss Walze, No. 15354, I can imagine it was a favorite of my wife's Great-Grandmother's, along with No. 15109, "Stille Nacht, Heileige Nacht"!

I couldn't be more elated. I get to play forensic scientist and catch a glimpse of the lives of these long gone relatives. I can almost see them on a Saturday night on their farm in rural Wyoming, NY, winding down after a day of tending the animals...in the snow...getting warmed up by the stove and relaxing to some of their sentimental favorites from the Fatherland.

I have compiled a list of all that I have, matched many of them up to their hand labeled containers, and next I will put together a spreadsheet, play each and every one that will play and document the condition. Along with this, I hope to find as much information as I can about the details of each recording and attempt to accurately date them all.

Fran

A picture of my progress, each sorted to each likeness (labeled, unlabeled, ribbed bore, smooth bore, Edison, Columbia, Oxford, etc.):

Hi Fran,
Looks like you have found a great group of cylinders. When you find a Phonograph it is always interesting to see the selection of cylinders that come with it. It gives you a glimpse into the past, the musical tastes and sometimes the ethnic heritage of the original owners. I recently bought an Amberola 30 that came with 60 cylinders. All but one of the cylinders were religious tunes. I can't help but wonder if the machine might have been owned by a Minister. I notice in the foreground of your picture that you have 13 Edison 2- Minute boxes without lids where the original wax cylinders have been replaced with Columbia or Oxford type indestructibles. The original Edison wax cylinders must have got broken over 100 years ago and the owner bought replacement indestructible ones. Interesting they decided to keep the Edison boxes instead of the brand name boxes that would have come with the replacement cylinders. When you have the time let us know what some of the other titles are.
all the best
Pete

It is great that you have this bit of family heritage, and it sounds like you are enjoying the discovery process.

Clay

Hi Pete,

Maybe your Amberola was a cherished church addition at one time?

These cylinders have been in my possession for nearly 30 years, tucked away safe. When my wife's Grandmother passed away (we were very close) she wanted me to have the Edison and all it's paraphernalia. When my wife and I were just starting out we would spend every Sunday with her and she would have me maintain it and on rare occasion we would listen to something. It was her parents before it was hers.

I did find some GM boxes with redundant titles to the Columbia/Oxford types, quite a few German selections, which reflects the family heritage. Sophie Fischer, my wife's Great Grandmother came to the States in 1894 from Bavaria. She and her husband eventually bought a farm, but lost it in 1929, and were forced to auction off most of their livestock and equipment. Eventually they had another farm that was very near where my wife and I settled down and live. When I use this machine, I get a very profound sense of them. My wife (and children) is the only living descendant, her mother was an only child of the only child to have children in the area, so it means a lot to keep their legacy alive.

I am going to need to decide if I should try to replace the boxes for the oxfords, or just maintain the "original" aspect of the collection.

Fran

FloridaClay wrote:It is great that you have this bit of family heritage, and it sounds like you are enjoying the discovery process.

Clay

Thank you, Clay, I am enjoying every minute (or 2)!

Hey folks,

Can someone tell me how to rate these? Is there a more or less standardized concept that most people honor?

Thanks,
Fran

Give us some titles. You got some Billy Murray there or something?

That makes two people I "know" who enjoy Billy Murray. I think it would have been a great opening Monty Python animation to have two Dough boys carrying an Edison Army/Navy phonograph through a mud-filled trench, amidst the rattle of machine gun fire, with Billy Murray singing one of his great hits--like "There Must Be Little Cupids in the Briny." No need for the Liberty Bell March.

Wolfe, I'm coming to enjoy your crusty-ness. You'll be "delighted" to hear I've bought four Edison Long Play records since we last "spoke." No Billy Murray on any of 'em, though.

pughphonos wrote:That makes two people I "know" who enjoy Billy Murray. I think it would have been a great opening Monty Python animation to have two Dough boys carrying an Edison Army/Navy phonograph through a mud-filled trench, amidst the rattle of machine gun fire, with Billy Murray singing one of his great hits--like "There Must Be Little Cupids in the Briny." No need for the Liberty Bell March.

Wolfe, I'm coming to enjoy your crusty-ness. You'll be "delighted" to hear I've bought four Edison Long Play records since we last "spoke." No Billy Murray on any of 'em, though.

Hey. If you don't know people that like Billy Murray that's their (your) loss. It's got nothing to do with being "crusty." Billy Murray is less crusty than any of these also-rans that make popular records these days.

Wolfe wrote:Give us some titles. You got some Billy Murray there or something?

Yup, there's some Billy Murray, Collins and Harlan, Ada Jones, Edison Orchestra, Indestructible Orchestra, a wide variety. What I'm looking to do is rate condition using some sort of system, for my own edification, mostly. I just don't have any point of reference.

For instance, I have Edison Record #682, "Rendezvous Waltz". It is whole with a couple small chips, and playable, but very noisy because of surface degradation. I can make out most of the music, but not the intro to the piece. I would classify it as "poor" but not junk. For all I know, it might be "good" or very poor. I have the box for it, but not the cover. Some have both, some are in incorrect boxes, etc.

I don't necessarily mean monetary value, but perhaps in physical characteristics and/or historical value.

My question is how does everyone decide on relative condition appraisal? Is there a standardized point system, or should I use a letter grade system like NM, Ex, VG, G, etc.?

Also, because of the differing compositions used by Columbia, Indestructible and Edison, is there more "allowance" or forgiveness to Edison because of the decay?

Thank you for your input,
Fran