The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Now this looks like an interesting item, I wonder how it would work? Anyone ever heard of stereo 78 records?

What fun!
No stereo 78s, but...
Around 1931 some experimental 78 rpm recordings WERE made in stereo by Alan Blumlein (who had developed Columbia's own electric recording system to save paying the expensive Western Electric royalties) at EMI of Ray Noble and Al Bowlly, which have recently been discovered. They were not issued, though.

Something like a Polyphone machine could make stereo--one side vertical cut, the other lateral.

Not sure how long records would last that way, though.

Around 1931 some experimental 78 rpm recordings WERE made in stereo by Alan Blumlein (who had developed Columbia's own electric recording system to save paying the expensive Western Electric royalties) at EMI of Ray Noble and Al Bowlly, which have recently been discovered.

I'd be very interested in hearing more about these recordings.

Duke Ellington in "stereo" in 1932: https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct- ... story.html

CharliePhono wrote:Duke Ellington in "stereo" in 1932: https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct- ... story.html

Similar results have been obtained from certain test pressings of Elgar's recordings, which he retained in his personal library.
These have been digitally remastered and released as a 4 CD set on SOMMCD 261-4.

Gramophile wrote:What fun!
No stereo 78s, but...
Around 1931 some experimental 78 rpm recordings WERE made in stereo by Alan Blumlein (who had developed Columbia's own electric recording system to save paying the expensive Western Electric royalties) at EMI of Ray Noble and Al Bowlly, which have recently been discovered. They were not issued, though.

Actually, they were issued- but on a limited basis. Pressed in vinyl using the original stampers. The labels were also copied exactly. All are 10 inch if I recall correctly. And if I recall correctly, a special electronic matrixing network has to be built to make them listenable in Blumlein stereo.
It isn't 45-45 stereo as it exists today.

The reissues might have been pressed by "Historic Masters" who made rare recordings pressed from the original stampers. Legally! Or it may have been pressed by EMI for limited distribution to achives.

And there was data, copied from original logs, progarm notes and technical info. And a schematic for the necessary playback network that was issued with the discs.

That is about all I can recall about them.

Bob Hodge

chunnybh wrote:
I'd be very interested in hearing more about these recordings.

Here is a link to a you tube video with the Blumlein stereo test recordings. The Ray Noble stereo test recording starts at about 6 minutes. Before it are various other tests. The sound of the band at 8 minutes is particularly impressive through headphones. There is some interesting info with the video too. These recordings were taken directly from the original metal masters.

(Double-click the video above or click this link to watch the video on YouTube in high quality.)

Now, that's impressive. The sound is much like what eventually did happen with stereo. I guess playback equipment would have been very impractical requiring simultaneous playback of two records perfectly synchronized. But, really a terrific outcome. Thanks for posting this.

As far as I am aware I think these tests were done as a vertical cut for one channel and lateral for the other into one groove which is why they were considered so revolutionary for the time.

I also came across this radio programme about Blumlein which might be of interest:

(Double-click the video above or click this link to watch the video on YouTube in high quality.)