Henry Burr Test Pressing?

NateO · Post by **NateO** » Sat Mar 15, 2014 6:02 pm

I bought this disc out of curiosity, and as a fan of Henry Burr. However, I have no idea what it is. Both sides are by Burr, "Mother Machree" and "Just a Baby's Prayer at Twilight," with matrix numbers of 27 and 82. The only info written in the dead wax are the matrix numbers, so I am unsure what company recorded this. I know that "Baby's Prayer" came out around 1918, but that is about it. Can anyone identify this? Any help would be appreciated!

Nathan

Wolfe · Post by **Wolfe** » Sun Mar 16, 2014 3:58 pm

You didn't say it was vertical cut, so I suppose that would rule out an early Okeh test. Burr recorded for Okeh at their start in 1918.

He recorded Baby's Prayer... at least for Victor, Columbia, Pathé and Emerson. but the matrix # throws any of those out for consideration.

NateO · Post by **NateO** » Sun Mar 16, 2014 4:32 pm

Wolfe wrote:You didn't say it was vertical cut, so I suppose that would rule out an early Okeh test. Burr recorded for Okeh at their start in 1918.

He recorded Baby's Prayer... at least for Victor, Columbia, Pathé and Emerson. but the matrix # throws any of those out for consideration.

Yes, it is a lateral cut disc. I had also considered those labels, but the matrix numbers are a real problem.
Was a pairing of these songs ever issued on any label? I can't find one, but my resources are limited.

Harold Aherne · Post by **Harold Aherne** » Sun Mar 16, 2014 10:30 pm

Henry Burr also recorded these selections for Brunswick in 1917-18, but again the two-digit matrix number rules out the likelihood of these originating from B-B-C. "Mother Machree" was matrix 858, issued on Brunswick 5085, and "Just a Baby's Prayer at Twilight" [matrix unknown in Laird's discography] was issued on Brunswick 5196, both under his birth name of Harry McClaskey.

How large are these tests, i.e. what's their diameter? If it's something other than 10 inches, that might narrow things a bit.

Another idea: Starr-Gennett began producing masters in 1916 and the New York Recording Laboratories in 1917. Nos. 27 and 82 *might* be low enough to originate from either of these, but since the tests are lateral it seems less likely.

-HA

Wolfe · Post by **Wolfe** » Sun Mar 16, 2014 10:45 pm

Baby's Prayer... wasn't published until 1918.

NateO · Post by **NateO** » Mon Mar 17, 2014 8:30 am

Harold Aherne wrote:Henry Burr also recorded these selections for Brunswick in 1917-18, but again the two-digit matrix number rules out the likelihood of these originating from B-B-C. "Mother Machree" was matrix 858, issued on Brunswick 5085, and "Just a Baby's Prayer at Twilight" [matrix unknown in Laird's discography] was issued on Brunswick 5196, both under his birth name of Harry McClaskey.

How large are these tests, i.e. what's their diameter? If it's something other than 10 inches, that might narrow things a bit.

Another idea: Starr-Gennett began producing masters in 1916 and the New York Recording Laboratories in 1917. Nos. 27 and 82 *might* be low enough to originate from either of these, but since the tests are lateral it seems less likely.

-HA

The disc is just under 10 inches in diameter. As Wolfe mentioned, it has to be sometime after 1918, which excludes early Starr-Gennett.
The grooves on this disc are different than I am used to. They are actually slightly higher than the dead wax. I had initially thought it was a vertical cut, but it plays without issue on a modern turntable.

Wolfe · Post by **Wolfe** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 1:09 pm

Was this ever solved?

Viva-Tonal · Post by **Viva-Tonal** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 1:48 pm

I have a hunch it's Angelophone. They show an unlisted 82 with 'hymn talk' as one side of the disc, and an unknown Henry Burr title for the other side. However the numbering in the list begins at 49....

http://78discography.com/Angelophone.htm

OrthoSean · Post by **OrthoSean** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 2:05 pm

Viva-Tonal wrote:I have a hunch it's Angelophone. They show an unlisted 82 with 'hymn talk' as one side of the disc, and an unknown Henry Burr title for the other side. However the numbering in the list begins at 49....

http://78discography.com/Angelophone.htm

Hm...but all Angelophone issues I've ever seen were seven inch discs and vertical cut, so could it be they were all dubs from larger masters? I have one Angelophone and it's been probably 20 years since I've played it.

Sean

Viva-Tonal · Post by **Viva-Tonal** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 2:20 pm

No idea....have never seen one myself. I wonder if these were experimental prototypes for a 10" Angelophone that never materialised?

Henry Burr Test Pressing?

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