The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I bought a 8 of these robins egg blue 2 minute cylinders that were in Oxford boxes. I dont know if the boxes are original to the cylinders or not but, I cant find any information about who made these. Oxford doesn't list an light blue cylinders from what I can find. Does anyone have any info on these? Thanks

They were made by the Albany indestructible company, Albany New York.

A great book:
http://www.mainspringpress.com/book_indestructible.html

Best,
Fran

What Fran said, that book is fantastic. I use it all the time. As far as I've been able to tell, the Robins Egg Blue cylinders were Oxford branded, at least most of the time, and Oxford was Montgomery Ward's "brand" if I'm remembering correctly. I picked up 15 or 20 of these last year all in original boxes with correctly matching numbered lids, each was in a light blue Oxford box. One thing I've noticed about them is that they seem to be a bit more noisy than the black celluloid counterparts, at least all of the ones I have (maybe 50-75 total). It could be just my cylinders, but I dimly seem to remember another thread where this was discussed.

Sean

Sean wrote, "Oxford was Montgomery Ward's "brand" if I'm remembering correctly…"

Oxford was actually Sears, Roebuck & Co. brand, superseding Harvard and superseded by Silvertone. Montgomery Ward's mail order brand was Lakeside.

That's an attractive color on those!

Best wishes, Mark

I stand corrected, I knew it was one or the other...posting before a second coffee in the morning is always a risky thing for me!

Seam

Thanks guys! I agree about the sound of them. They are noiser and have less volume than the Edison cylinders but, they sound OK.

"They were made by the Albany indestructible company, Albany New York."

+1

"Sears Marketed them as Oxford and Montgomery Ward marketed them as Lakeside...That's correct."

+1


They also came in Green (Sometimes a faded Blue), and also in a Gray color as well.


)

Tony K.

Edison Collector/Restorer

I have a light grey 4-Minute Oxford Indestructible, the sound quality of which is inferior to even a dubbed Blue Amberol.

I probably have a couple dozen of the light blue ones. Even if they appear visibly excellent the sound quality is noticeably inferior by a long shot imho.