The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have a bunch of old brown wax cylinders. When I play them the sounds is extremely soft, but still audible. They are playing at normal speed, and yet still they sounds very fast and the singers sound like chipmunks. Were these cylinders meant to be played at a much slower speed? What era do these come from? I’ve seen these before and sellers will comment on them being different than other brown wax cylinders. I’d love to know more about these. I suspect they are pretty old cylinders! Thank in advance for any information!

These would date between 1890 to 1898.edisonplayer.

I figured they were older but it’s cool to know they were from 1890-1898. Are they intended to be played as a much slower speed? How many RPMs are they supposed to be played at?

KCW wrote: Wed Sep 11, 2024 10:09 pm I figured they were older but it’s cool to know they were from 1890-1898. Are they intended to be played as a much slower speed? How many RPMs are they supposed to be played at?

I believe early brown waxes were generally recorded at around 120-125 rpm, at least for musical records (talking records could be recorded as slow as 80-90 rpm, iirc). Some late brown waxes were recorded at 144 rpm.
- Bill

Does the content indicate that they may be home recordings? A home recording may have been done at a lower speed to increase recording time. Or, as suggested, they may be some very early recordings. Can you post any pictures of the cylinders? Those here, who know more about it than I do, can usually date cylinders by appearance alone.

I don’t think it’s a home recording but I could be wrong. The song is “Tramp Tramp Tramp” which I believe is from the civil war. Attached are some photos. It’s a very quiet recording. I only paid 20$ for it. All the informstion is provided is very valuable and appreciated!

Just my two cents. I only have a few, but every home recording I own is "very soft, but audible". One of them even sounds the way you describe when played at a "normal" speed. Have you tried playing them at a slower speed? My money's on them being home recordings.

Steve

KCW wrote: Thu Sep 12, 2024 2:01 pm I don’t think it’s a home recording but I could be wrong. The song is “Tramp Tramp Tramp” which I believe is from the civil war. Attached are some photos. It’s a very quiet recording. I only paid 20$ for it. All the informstion is provided is very valuable and appreciated!IMG_4812.jpegIMG_4811.jpegIMG_4810.jpeg

Is there any announcement on it? If so, what does it say (if you can make it out)?
Recording companies in the 1890s often announced the brand (Columbia, Edison, etc.) to protect their product. No announcement, or one without a brand, might be either a home recording, or perhaps a pirate, pantographed copy, with the announcement omitted to forestall legal action...

The beginning of the recording is very soft but I don’t believe there is an announcement. I’d post a recording but it’s so soft one can barely hear it!

The 160 RPM standard for cylinders came later, when moulded records hit the market. The brown ones were generally (considerably) slower but not standardized.

Just in case you don't know, and apologies if you do: don't play brown wax cylinders with a Model C or later reproducer. Those were intended for the harder moulded cylinders. For brown wax, I think what you want is a Model B, or else an electronic option like what I mentioned in response to your related posting over in "machines." The relatively heavy floating weight of the later models (compared to that of a Model B) will cause undue, rapid wear to the older brown wax type.