My First 7 inch 78 record

[Edisonfan]

Found this at my regular record dealer.

Universal Zonophone Record No. C 5266 Xyl. Solo. Du Du.

By Chas P. Lowe

I never new that some 78's had introductions? I thought they were only on Edison 2 minute cylinders.

Anyway, this is a cool item, for my collection.

Paul

[gramophoneshane]

Nice find Paul. It appears to be from 1903. I love finding discs that are announced. Many of the early companies included announcements on their records, including Victor, Berliner & even Pathé, but the practice seems to have stopped by about 1905 or so.

[Valecnik]

Found this at my regular record dealer.


I never new that some 78's had introductions? I thought they were only on Edison 2 minute cylinders.

Paul

"Regular" record dealer?? Paul I'm so jealous that you have a regular record dealer!

Regarding your comment on announcements at the beginning of records, there were at least a few others that did it on cylinder and disc. I can't remember if some of the 7" Berliners and Victors were also announced, even though I've got some back in the US. Someone here can surely answer. Certainly Columbia cylinders were announced as were some of the European ones. Pathé cylinders were announced and hence the first Pathé discs, which were dubbed from cylinders, were also announced.

Anyway congrats on your first 7" record!

[phonogfp]

Paul,

Your Zonophone record has a C-prefix with its catalog number, which suggests that it's a 9-inch pressing. Can you measure it to confirm its size? The 9-inch Zonophone disc was called the "Concert" while the 7-inch was called the "Parlor." There were no 10-inch Zonophones offered in this brown material.

Your disc, regardless of its size, dates from 1903/04 (there may be a small rectangular paper label on the reverse with a date - probably October 1903), is pressed from a dark brown material, and carries Zonophone's first paper label. These discs were pressed for Zonophone by the Auburn Button Works, in Auburn, New York.

Most disc records carried spoken announcements until around 1903/04. As you know, cylinder records persisted with announcements until around 1910.

Congratulations - Zonophone discs are cool - -

George P.

[phonogfp]

I can't remember if some of the 7" Berliners and Victors were also announced, even though I've got some back in the US. Someone here can surely answer.

Yes - early Berliners and Victors were indeed announced, and a few of the earliest Victors are announced as Berliners!

George P.

[gramophoneshane]

Pathé cylinders were announced and hence the first Pathé discs, which were dubbed from cylinders, were also announced.

Anyway congrats on your first 7" record!

There are even a few Pathé discs that are announced as "Sterling Records" lol.
Apparently Russell Hunting took off with some of the cylinder masters when he left Sterling, & Pathé used them, but a few slipped through without cutting the announcement off.

[OrthoSean]

Your Zonophone record has a C-prefix with its catalog number, which suggests that it's a 9-inch pressing. Can you measure it to confirm its size? The 9-inch Zonophone disc was called the "Concert" while the 7-inch was called the "Parlor."

Congratulations - Zonophone discs are cool - -

George P.

They are cool and usually very well recorded. A nice clean Zono disc with no wear can sound fantastic. I was wondering about the C-prefix myself as all my 9 inch Zonophones carry that, while none of my 7 inchers do. Thanks for clarifying that, I learned something new today!

Paul, your Zonophone probably plays at about 72-74 RPM.

Sean

[gramophoneshane]

Your Zonophone record has a C-prefix with its catalog number, which suggests that it's a 9-inch pressing. Can you measure it to confirm its size? The 9-inch Zonophone disc was called the "Concert" while the 7-inch was called the "Parlor."

Congratulations - Zonophone discs are cool - -

George P.

They are cool and usually very well recorded. A nice clean Zono disc with no wear can sound fantastic. I was wondering about the C-prefix myself as all my 9 inch Zonophones carry that, while none of my 7 inchers do. Thanks for clarifying that, I learned something new today!

Paul, your Zonophone probably plays at about 72-74 RPM.

Sean

Was it only "USA Zonophone's" first label that carried the "C" prefix for 9" discs?
My 9" Universal doesn't have the prefix C, but only the number 6004. I guess by the time my record was pressed, 7" discs had been discontinued??

[Edisonfan]

Hi George, It's more like 8 & 7/8th inches. Just shy of 9 inches. So your are right, about it being 9 inches instead of 7. I guess the 7 inch discs are smaller. I have four other Zon-o-phone records.


Actually, Sean: It plays just fine at 78 rpms.

Valecnik: It is nice to have one, however his discs are more then a dollar. Which I really don't mind. Since he has no competiton, and finding decent 78's that are protected are few and far between. This guy sells all of his 78's in either plastic or paper sleeves. Som even have the orginal paper sleeves.

Paul

[phonophan79]

Here's my 7" Victor being announced as seen this week in Featured Phonograph № 31.

Victor Record #A-65 - "Turkey in de Straw" sung by Billy Golden.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDUeTVzNoFI