The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello all!
I was able to get, most easily I must say, both releases of the Columbia 1910 + 1913 Advertisement records.
For some reason, I really enjoy them…
Maybe it’s the way that the advertisement was spoken or method but I think that they are really interesting.
I’m not sure if this topic has been covered but my question is:

Were there any other recording or phonograph companies that did something similar in that time period?

It would be really cool to listen to competing companies fight for business.

Thank you for any information! Mike

I have the Spanish version of the US Columbia, Disco Demostrativo.

I wonder in how many languages these records were produced…?

About 20 years later, UK Columbia gave this record to purchasers of a Marconiphone radiogram :

Edison made both cylinder and Diamond Disc versions, but they were only for dealers, never released to the public.

Pathé made a nice demo disc with a speech on one side and IIRC The Owl and the Pussycat on the other.

I know there are more, but that's all I can recall at the moment.

RCA Victor released the "RCA Program Transcription Album - Join the Victor Artists Party" with "Victor Music Festival" on the B-side (RCA DL-5-A and B). It was released 1931 with their longer playing machines and plays about 10 minutes on each side.

The Pathé demonstration disc can be heard here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJ2xNfzSpqQ (not my video)

The other side is indeed "The Owl and the Pussycat," sung to the tune of "The Old Cross Bow" from Reginald de Koven's Robin Hood.

drh wrote: Mon Jan 30, 2023 7:30 pm The other side is indeed "The Owl and the Pussycat," sung to the tune of "The Old Cross Bow" from Reginald de Koven's Robin Hood.

According to legend, Robin Hood used a longbow. It was William Tell who used a crossbow.

The Pathé disc is really cool! Thank you for sharing.
Too bad I don’t have the correct machines to play the other examples mentioned.
Would the Birth of Radio disc be able to be played with older machines or is it a lighter head style or orthophonic..?

Columbia RO 67 dates from 1934 and is a conventional shellac record, playable on an acoustic gramophone.