The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I was asked to make a record from an original (presumably) Edison cylinder Record Mold. I've been told that based on the shape of the end of the record it appears the master was would have been of a style used by the Edison company from ~1904 to 1912. There are no markings on the mold or record anywhere. The record has two short sections separated by a little over an inch of "land". Anyone have any thoughts, guess, etc. about this record?

(Double-click the video above or click this link to go to the video on YouTube.)

Btw: Apologies that I didn't notice the traffic noise in the video until I had already uploaded and shared the link.

Thanks,
Rob
Edisonia Records & Reproducers

Some of the early 4 minute indestructible had separations between two songs that were transferred from 2 different 2m cylinders. I have no clue what the history or purpose of this cylinder would have been, but I have to say the clarity and tone is spectacular, perhaps most cylinders sounded like that when new.

A quite-typical home recording. No mystery here.

PeterF wrote: Wed Jan 12, 2022 6:37 pm A quite-typical home recording. No mystery here.

Except that it was made from a mold, and the quality is exceptional, far above what would be typical for a home recording.

Could this have been for some kind of talking doll? It would explain why there are recordings in 2 distinct areas. The wax record could be duplicated and then cut in half to make 2 doll size records. Just a theory.

I’ve heard many home recordings of this quality.

Other than that, the content, quality of performance, format - even the big gap between the two home recordings on the face of the cylinder - all strongly supports the fact of it as home made.

Doubtful any manufacturer would attempt to sell these recordings with a doll, both for content and the low quality of the performances.

PeterF wrote: Wed Jan 12, 2022 7:00 pm I’ve heard many home recordings of this quality.

Other than that, the content, quality of performance, format - even the big gap between the two home recordings on the face of the cylinder - all strongly supports the fact of it as home made.

Doubtful any manufacturer would attempt to sell these recordings with a doll, both for content and the low quality of the performances.

Had this been a recording found on brown wax I would agree, but that then introduces the question as to why a home recording would be turned into a mold to be reproduced.

The doll idea actually makes sense, she seems to be speaking slowly and clearly to compensate for the poor sound reproduction of dolls. I cant think of any talking dolls that use cylinders of the standard diameter, but I'm sure somebody else here would know

I guess we would have to see what the mold looks like, compared to known originals.

The unpolished child may have been someone’s kid, allowed to record at dad’s workplace, but even that is a stretch.

Mold is copper. The inside surface is nickel plated (to prevent oxidation I supposed). The outer sleeve has a slight taper.

Also, I believe this is a Master mold. The diameter of the record is too large to allow playback with a Model C reproducer. There is barely enough clearance for the M reproducer on my Amberola 1.

"Presumably" Edison?

I would be inclined more toward the "doll" hypothesis: it is rather improbable that any Edison, Columbia, etc. employee would have obtained permission to make a mold of a home recording; and the person recording seems more 'professional' in their diction than the average child.

I do not know how many phonograph dolls there may have been, between the "Bébé Jumeau" and the Madam Hendron/Mae Starr versions; but this seems more likely to be one of them. Perhaps, if we could search the extant doll cylinders (or their catalogues), we might be able to track these recordings down.

- Bill