Any online source for correct speeds of opera recordings?

[larryh]

A friend informed me of the fact that a Patti record I had put on you tube was running too fast and he sent a "Caruso Strobe" to set it to the correct revolutions. I have tried to see if I could find many of the other artist I have and the speed each of their records was recorded at. But so far I am only seeing reference to the fact they were different a couple expensive books which are said to have a specific artist information on RPM's but so far no actual list of records with correct speeds. Do any of you have a link to such a source or is it not been done? People are finding them somewhere, but where?

Larry

[gramophone-georg]

Good question. Years ago, I bought a goodly pile of Grand Prize opera recordings from an avid collector who had noted speeds of each one in the runoff area. I have also had a few that had noted the speed on the label... I think they were 86 RPM or something odd like that. As I recall without digging them all out- there were quite a few variations, and 78 RPM to 80 RPM wasn't as "standard" as collectors have been lead to believe.

My question has always been were the conteporaneous black label Victors, Deluxes, and Monarchs the same with speed variations? what about the earlier 7 inch Johnson/ Victor recordings? Were they 60-75 RPM like Berliners? I've never found any answer to that.

[melvind]

I have not seen this kind of info online anywhere, but I have the "Caruso Records A History and Discography" book by John Bolig has the speed for each record listed with all the recording date, matrix and released numbers. The Victor black label red label books may also have this type of information in it thought I have not seen it. John Bolig was involved in those books as well.

Here is a link to books. http://www.mainspringpress.com/home.html

Dan

[gramophone-georg]

I have not seen this kind of info online anywhere, but I have the "Caruso Records A History and Discography" book by John Bolig has the speed for each record listed with all the recording date, matrix and released numbers. The Victor black label red label books may also have this type of information in it thought I have not seen it. John Bolig was involved in those books as well.

Here is a link to books. http://www.mainspringpress.com/home.html

Dan

What about all the other red label artists, though? Any known reference?

[OrthoFan]

What about all the other red label artists, though? Any known reference?

They provide the speeds for the Victor/HMV recording sessions on the John McCormack Society's Discography site -- http://www.mccormacksociety.co.uk/Mccor ... graphy.htm

OrthoFan

[bfinan11]

Is the prevalence of 76 rather than 78 rpm indicative of a wider trend, did John McCormack demand a lower speed for some reason, or did whoever compiled these speeds have a flat ear and/or pitchpipe?

I guess any of these could make sense because calling them 78s only became necessary long after the acoustic era, but is there any kind of contemporary source for 76 having been a standard?

[larryh]

Many of the records were recorded well below the 76 range. The Patti record my friend informed me is at the 73.47 revolutions. He has many of the speeds but somehow I can't make heads or tails of them in his list of records.

[epigramophone]

Some early HMV record catalogues showed the recommended playing speeds :

[Wolfe]

^ HMV also listed speeds on some of their labels that are wrong - that 80 rpm designation, for instance - and maybe it's a Caruso that plays at 75 or something.


I don't know of any online source. It would be nice if at least the EDVR would list the speeds they use.

[Orchorsol]

I don't have any time to search and peruse at present, but maybe there's a resource to be found here, or via:
http://www.charm.kcl.ac.uk/index.html