The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have two moldy brown wax cylinders in my great grandparents' collection. I thought it odd because Edison stopped making brown wax well before their 1908 phonograph was made. But I looked them up and they are 1905 and 1906 Columbia recordings in Oxford containers. As I recall, Oxford brand was sold by Sears and Roebuck. Can anyone confirm whether these might be in the original containers or is it likely that they were switched somewhere along the way?

The recordings are #33163 Red Wing and #33036 In the Sweet Bye and Bye.

Photos of the records and boxes would be helpful, but I suspect they are mismatched.

Hi

This is only a partial answer (of sorts). In a perfect world, all cylinders that were made of brown wax would have instantly disappeared as soon as the industry accepted the new type of molded "black wax" (in early 1902). But B&R records sold their own selections, ca 1904, only in old-style brown wax. It was expensive to invest in equipment to make molded cylinders.

Of course, Edison's own 2"-dia cylinders of pantographed brown wax did cease production in July of 1902 (but continued their brown wax Concerts, 5"); HOWEVER, Columbia continued their brown 2" selections for a while (no real black until late 1903) and they had an enormous inventory of the earlier ones. That "inventory" went to Sears Roebuck mail order house and were sold to the public for several years (as Oxfords, iirc), at greatly discounted prices. Your examples may date from that source.

Allen

Very interesting response. thank you Allen.