The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I just bought a box of cylinders at an auction where I was mostly outbid by others. But there were so many boxes of cylinders that I got a good box anyway. There were some rare 5000 cylinders in my box including Henry's made a lady out of Lizzie, The Letter edged in Black, Barbara Allen by Frank Luther and his Pards, and a very rare one, 5615, by Posey Rorer and the North Carolina Ramblers. The song is As we sat beneath the maple on the hill. It is hillbilly country music without doubt. According to Allen Sutton in his Edison Blue Amberol Cylinder book, this song was simultaneously recorded for needle cut records, but he doesn't know if it was ever released in that format. Has anyone ever heard of Posey Rorer and his N.C. Ramblers? He also recorded a few more B.A.'s for Edison such as Down in a Georgia jail.

Posey Rorer and / or the North Carolina Ramblers should be well known to anyone who is interested in old time hillbilly / string band music. Charlie Poole is a major figure.

I'm curious of whatever country music appeared on cylinder - acts such as Ernest Stoneman, etc. There isn't really any true country music to appear on 78's or cylinders prior to the early 1920's, so one assumes any country cylinders are just dubbed BA's. Interesting anyway.

5000? Really? It'll take your whole life to go through them!

Marco, not 5000 cylinders, no. I mean there were a few Blue Amberols with serial numbers above 5000, which means they are cylinders made from 1925 to 1929 when cylinder production was very small. The Posey Rorer cylinder, 5615, was issued in 1928. The last Blue Amberol cylinder released in the popular series was 5732, The Wedding of the Painted Doll by the California Ramblers, which was issued in May, 1929. this would be a rare record indeed!

marcapra wrote:Marco, not 5000 cylinders, no. I mean there were a few Blue Amberols with serial numbers above 5000, which means they are cylinders made from 1925 to 1929 when cylinder production was very small. The Posey Rorer cylinder, 5615, was issued in 1928. The last Blue Amberol cylinder released in the popular series was 5732, The Wedding of the Painted Doll by the California Ramblers, which was issued in May, 1929. this would be a rare record indeed!

Actually, the last one issued was 5719, John Gart playing "If I Had You" on a concert organ. Only 25 copies were ever pressed and I know of no one who owns a copy. Numbers were assigned for 5720-5732, but they were never issued. A further handful may have been suggested for release, but without any number assigned when Edison closed up shop.

Ah, I see! Sorry for the misunderstanding!

Oh, you're right! I forgot that Allen Sutton is so complete that he lists issued as well as never issued records in his discographies.