The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

“On This Day in the History of Recorded Sound…”

January 1, 1873: Born: Fred Gaisberg, musician, recording engineer, and pioneer producer of classical and world music.

https://www.antiquephono.org/#/

Fred's autobiography, "The Music Goes Round" chronicling FG's early years as a recording technician for the Gramophone Co. is a fascinating read.
Online copy for downloading -- https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dl ... 9/mode/2up

Thanks for that much improved image! With your permission, I'll substitute it for the one I've been using each January 1st.

George P.

phonogfp wrote: Thu Jan 01, 2026 12:09 pm Thanks for that much improved image! With your permission, I'll substitute it for the one I've been using each January 1st.

George P.

Sure, go ahead. I enhanced it with the online tool I wrote about here -- viewtopic.php?t=62152

It does an excellent job, compared to earlier versions by other companies, though it sometimes takes me a few tries before I'm satisfied with the results. For some strange reason I've yet to figure out, I have to open the unblurred image file in Paint and then copy and paste it into a new/fresh image file before posting it on this forum.

OrthoFan

Thanks! I must admit that I'm quite deficient technologically. I've never even posted a video. I don't know how...

George P.

I had dinner at Rule's last week, in Maiden Lane (London). Gaisberg established the world's first purpose-designed recording studio next door, and had a loud-voiced barmaid from Rule's help in setting up equipment. I believe there's a marker, but on Google Earth, there's a delivery van parked blocking the view.

Hi Nat --

Here's some information about the plaque -- https://www.emiarchivetrust.org/rock-ro ... ng-studio/

This image shows the rather hard to spot plaque. (Click to enlarge).

The barmaid was Syria Lamonte, the first records made in London were sung by her. As said by Brian Rust.
If memory doesn't fail...
EDIT:
It didn't fail. I've been lurking inthe web and here is an interesting article about Syria:
https://theatreheritage.org.au/on-stage ... ing-artist