The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Ok, here is one more Berliner? From October of 1895. I assume this has to be a Berliner, even though it does not have the typical stamp at the top. Instead, this one in very light writing says only "Pat'd October 25, 1895" and other patents. The same month as the recording. The number on the record is 959Z. The Z represents a code that means this record is the first 'remake" of Berliner Cataloged record number 959.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAEb-HHIcn0

This very old rendition of "Sidewalks of New York" is indeed fascinating. I'm sure you'll like the comment I left you on Youtube.

solophoneman wrote:I assume this has to be a Berliner, even though it does not have the typical stamp at the top.

Was this perhaps another ‘pirated’ Zonophone record?

— MordEth

Fascinating. I wiki'ed the song, and it seems the tune was only a year old when this rendition was recorded:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sidewalks_of_New_York

MordEth wrote:

solophoneman wrote:I assume this has to be a Berliner, even though it does not have the typical stamp at the top.

Was this perhaps another ‘pirated’ Zonophone record?

— MordEth

No, a few of the later 1895 pressings didn't use the typical typefaces. I have a couple of these (including "Sidewalks of New York"). By the time Seaman was copying Berliner pressings (see my posting under "As Long As We're Talking About Berliners...") in late 1899-early 1900, these 1895 recordings were obsolescent. I doubt whether acceptable copies could have been made from these 1895 hard rubber stampings anyway!

George P.

If I had one of these records I wouldn't be playing it with a steel needle on an acoustic machine either. Ouch!

Lenoirstreetguy wrote:If I had one of these records I wouldn't be playing it with a steel needle on an acoustic machine either. Ouch!

Not unless you've got a nice crapophone to play them on
I made this one to play my Berliners. It's only a cardboard horn, but I made it so the soundbox is very light on the records. Obviously the steel needle does still wear the disc, but nowhere near as much as any other acoustic machine I own, and you still get that authentic Berliner sound

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAjlhPJFjy0[/youtube]

Lenoirstreetguy wrote:If I had one of these records I wouldn't be playing it with a steel needle on an acoustic machine either. Ouch!

Yes, but you only come this way once you know, and the fun and enjoyment of collecting these old recorded sound icons, is playing them on the authentic old machines of the past. I didn't mention to you that sometime in this records past, probably early in the 2Oth Century, somebody actually stamped an enlarged hole into several of these Berliners in order to play them on a Standard or some other gramophone with an enlarged spindle whole. So this particular one was defaced and mutilated long ago, but can still produce a good deal of fascination and enjoyment despite its circumstances.

I was wondering about the eyelet in the centre. It's something I'd expect to see on an early Columbia.

I have a Berliner disc with a second spindle hole. The second hole is about half the size of the first. I have no idea what purpose this served.



Rocky