The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Found this whilst digging through a book of Columbia Red Harry James records. I was a bit surprised when I pulled it out of its sleeve. I did a quick Google search and it appears as though it is actually his signature, just not sure what he would have signed it with and... again... in the grooves?!

Ever seen this before?

That's cool and interesting! I've never seen a signature on the grooves, but the closest I have is an Edison lateral where, oddly, only the grooves with vocals are marked out with a yellow/gold that does not sound. Regular cleaning methods and playing do not remove it at all. Perhaps it is similar to the grease china pencils used for cuing marks.

Yes, I looked at it under a pretty powerful microscope and it looks like white crayon but finer, crayon would have crumbled whilst this left a very clean mark. There's a bit of buildup in the grooves themselves which means this will be a record that does not get played, I'll have to find another player copy.

This is genuine. I once had a red label Columbia Harry James record autographed in white in the same location on the disc.

To me it looks lie one of those silver paint pens you can get at arts and crafts stores. James lived until 1983; I'm not sure paint pens were around at that point, but it's possible.

It IS a Columbia red label...you got that going...there should be a few left.

Title is great...10:60 P. M.
25 or 6 to 4 anybody?

bob stutz

woops...11:60 P.M. is the title

52089 wrote: Thu Dec 09, 2021 11:40 am To me it looks lie one of those silver paint pens you can get at arts and crafts stores. James lived until 1983; I'm not sure paint pens were around at that point, but it's possible.

It is most certainly from a white grease pencil given the inspection under strong magnification, nice and precise

vintagetenor wrote: Thu Dec 09, 2021 8:17 am This is genuine. I once had a red label Columbia Harry James record autographed in white in the same location on the disc.

That's so cool! I don't suppose you have a photo of it?

I don't have a photo, unfortunately. But in August, 2013 I sold it (along with a couple of thousand others) to a jazz and ragtime historian in Pittsburgh, PA. I was wondering whether your example is actually the record I had. I forget the titles.