The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Surely somebody on the Forum can satisfy my curiosity as to the number of the first disc released by Edison? Purely academic.

If by first you mean the lowest number, that would be 50001. However, this is not as simple as it might seem.

The first Diamond Discs were prototypes, used only for demonstrations at various dealer conventions. These are extremely rare. There was a disc 50001 in this range, Miserere from Trovatore.

When Edison started selling discs and machines, he initially did so only to preferred customers, not to the general public. The lowest number disc actually sold to the public was 50001, Moonlight in Jungleland/Below the Mason Dixon Line. Discs up to 50047 were sold during this initial "soft" sale, along with about 140 other discs in other series. These early discs are hard to find, but not impossible. I have 5 or 6 of them and I know other board members who have some.

When the general public launch came, all but 10 of the early discs were withdrawn. Only 50001, 50043, and 50045 survived from the 50000 series. The new 50000 series records started with 50051, Fairest Rose Waltz/L'Elegante, which stayed in the catalog until 1929.

Also keep in mind that Edison released records in other series (80000,82000, etc.) at the same time, so there is no true "first" record.

I would recommend the Collector's Guide to Edison Records by George Copland and Mike Sherman and most of the above information comes from that book.

Okay, thank you. I thought that it might have been 50001 (along with the other series) but I wasn't sure. I do have that one, and I love it

Is the book you mentioned still in print?

winsleydale wrote:Okay, thank you. I thought that it might have been 50001 (along with the other series) but I wasn't sure. I do have that one, and I love it

Is the book you mentioned still in print?

Order it here:

http://monarchrecs.com/upcoming.html

thanks

I am fortunate to have the #50001 "Moonlight in Jungleland", I think I picked up at a antique mall for about 5.00 several years ago. I do not see this title come up very often, so it may be kind of rare.

Victrolacollector wrote:I am fortunate to have the #50001 "Moonlight in Jungleland", I think I picked up at a antique mall for about 5.00 several years ago. I do not see this title come up very often, so it may be kind of rare.

It's certainly not as common as say, "I'll take You Home Again Kathleen", but it's not particularly rare. It stayed in the catalog until late 1927, which means it exists on paper label as well as engraved label.

I have a DD with a box, 82015. I've been told it was one of the early ones. I was hoping someone could shed some light on this for me. I'll post pictures.

82015 is indeed one of the very early "preliminary" discs and was withdrawn from the Edison catalog on July 21, 1913. You'll find, when you play this, that the surfaces are very quiet.

Congrats on having the original box as well. These are even harder to find than the early records!

Dustie89 wrote:I have a DD with a box, 82015. I've been told it was one of the early ones. I was hoping someone could shed some light on this for me. I'll post pictures.

I have 82020, with box.... but not, alas, in such fine condition as yours....
Bill