Page 1 of 1

Edison Beethoven's 5th Diamond Disc, 1st Long Play Ever!

Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2016 1:55 pm
by DGPros
In order to not high jack another threadhttp://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... 3&start=20 running on here, and of course to pass on what I've learned, think I've learned , and hope to learn more, I thought I would start a new thread.

All I've learned.
A) The Edison Long Playing Record- Except for the Long-Playing Sample of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, none of them were marketed emphasizing their long playing continuous capabilities. There is an interesting side note to the Long Playing picture. The first Edison Long Playing Sample record was the Beethoven Fifth Symphony. The first Victor Program transcription was the Beethoven Fifth , and in 1948 the Fifth reappeared among the first of the Columbia LP issues. I have not traced the lineage back to the first multiple disc 78 set.(1)taken from The Edison Discography (1926-29) by Raymond R. Wile page xix-xx
B)12025 (12") ABCD 1-Jan-1927
FGH 10-Mar-1927
JK ?
American symphony Orchestra (Cesare Sodero, conductor) 11340; 11341; 11350; 11351
Symphony #5- part 1 (Beethoven)
Note: 11340, 11341, 11350, and 11351 were recorded for LP transfer and never appeared as regular discs. Samples were made, at least one copy exists in a private collection. taken from The Edison Discography (1926-29) by Raymond R. Wile page 379
12026 "states same with different matrix #'s shown"

C)This copy was purchased from an estate sale of a collector that was acknowledged in "The Edison Disc Phonographs and the Diamond Discs by George L. Frow" and a contributor to "Edison Blue Amberol Recordings 1912-1914 by Ronald Dethlefson". The edges are rough, leading me to believe it was a sample record of the 40 minute variety. I do not have a LP reproducer, and even if I did, probably wouldn't trust myself not to damage it. :D If anyone has any additional information, and or corrections to my post above, please let me know. Thanks Gary

Re: Edison Beethoven Fifth Diamond Disc LP record

Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2016 2:44 pm
by phonogfp
Thanks for posting this, Gary. A most interesting record! :)

George P.

Re: Edison Beethoven Fifth Diamond Disc LP record

Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2016 5:21 pm
by Phototone
So, even though this is a longer work, it was recorded in sections on a standard cut lathe, plated and final discs made, then these discs were dubbed in order to the long play master wax?

Re: Edison Beethoven's Fifth, 1st Diamond Disc LP record

Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2016 5:54 pm
by DGPros
Phototone wrote:So, even though this is a longer work, it was recorded in sections on a standard cut lathe, plated and final discs made, then these discs were dubbed in order to the long play master wax?
This is what I found in "Collector's Guide to Edison Records" by Copeland & Sherman. Page 33

4) All Long Play Diamond Discs were recorded by playing short-play records alternately on two phonographs through long narrow horns that activated the long play recorder. To avoid overcutting from one grove to the next and to avoid reproducer problems, most of the long play issues were recorded softly.
Sonically, these records can't duplicate the sound quality of the directly recorded short-play records. Because of the dubbing process, by the time one hears the music, it has been through two acoustic recording processes.(except No. 30006 which was dubbed from electrically recorded masters) two acoustic reproducing processes, and has been subjected to four spring motor turntables.It's amazing how good the sound can be, considering what it has been through.
With the soft recording comes some original short-play surface noise, so the signal-to-noise ratio of these records is marginal at best. Poor record condition that adds noise can easily swamp the music.