The fragility of cylinders!

[iainp]

As a newbie, I'm learning something every day. What I learned yesterday is that cylinders will not survive even the smallest of falls (see photo)
I have 17 cylinders of acceptable quality, and my favourite is Kiss Kiss Kiss, by Ada Jones and Billy Murray, recorded in 1907. Which one did I drop? You guessed it...
Actually, it wasn't so much of a drop as a gentle slide out of its case, and from a very low height above the floor. Terrible to think it survived for 105 years until I got hold of it! I'll be a lot more careful in future.
Luckily I recorded it a few days ago:

www.fouragesofsand.com/2012/11/kiss-kiss-kiss-duet-sung-by-ada-jones-and-bill-murray.html

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[wagnerian]

Dear Iain,

I'm sure we've all done that and its pretty heart breaking especially if it is a well-loved cylinder, which is one of the reasons why I tend to collect indestructible type cylinders.

When I first started collecting as a schoolboy back in the 1970's I bought some mint two-minute cylinders for 60p each but what I hadn't notice was that one of the cylinder cartons didn't have a bottom until I lifted out of the box I have brought them home in, with a result pretty similar to the one in your photograph.

That being said, I also have a collecting of wax Amberols which certainly have their own foibles when it comes to fragility and shattering at will.

All the best

Tim W-W

[borrilabs]

I can make you a new record. I have really worked hard to make blanks of very good quality, in fact the latest batches are even quieter than any wax I have ever used. I will post some test on youtube soon. Anyhow, here is a photo of a group of very fine new recording blanks I manufacture. I don't hack down Ediphone blanks and call them my own, they are actually made from raw materials and are an aluminum soap.

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