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Post by neophone on Apr 18, 2007 2:23:03 GMT -5
Gents, I've got some favorites of my first lot of BA's & Oxford Indestructible. BA 2445 "Tickle Toes" One Step (..5) Is I think, my favorite right now. BA 1550 "Casey Jones" (..13) ('Even got the lid with this one!!) ;D BA 2556 "The Little Ford Rambled Right Along" (...7) Missing a big chunk of plaster, but plays through. BA 2063 "Virginia Reel" (.33) BA 4295 "Light Cavalry Overture" (.1) ;D BA 1543 "Red Wing" (.40) (Lid!  ) ;D BA 1884 "Rainbow"(..3) BA 1532 "Dixie Medley (Banjo) (.118) Surprisingly good volume and tone! BA 2022 "The Curse Of An Aching Heart" (..2) ;D It's all Eddie cantor's fault! OI (Oxford Indestructible) 3202 "My Wild Irish Rose" This one's beautiful all around cylinder and box/lid ;D OI 3084 "Blue Danube" Band Dashed thing fell right out of the bottom of the box and rolled all over the floor on me! I guess it is "Indestructible" ;D WHEW! OI 3022 "Madame Butterfly" Band I've noticed a slight skipping problem with some of the OI's, of course part of the problem may have been the missing spring. With only my very small selection of BA's I've noticed that the bluer ones seem to have more or a problem with splitting-Is that a correct assessment? Regards, J. |
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Post by maroongem on Apr 18, 2007 6:53:46 GMT -5
Nice assortment there, John. I like the BA Redwing by Fredrick Potter, and if you listen very carefully, you'll hear B. Murray in the chorus. Van Epps does a nice job on banjo in 'Dixie Medley', that's one of my favorite banjo cylinders.
Oxfords were made by Columbia for Sears, Roebuck & Co and suffer the same spotty surface quality as Columbias did. Hopefully the lube & the spring will take care of that skipping problem.
The cores in Oxfords, Columbias, Lakesides, et al. are less likely to split IMO due to the fact that they didn't have a plaster core that was subject to absorbing moisture, plus they had metal reinforcing bands inside. The only prob with the bands is that they can become rusty and cause a poor fit on the mandrel. A quick scouring with scotchbrite will fix that problem.
On some of the earliest BAs, prior to late 1913, Edison experimented with a water based formula, but there were complaints about early record wear, so Edison went back to his original formula. I can't say for certain that the deeper blue BAs split more readily than the earlier lighter ones. I think it may have been more of an issue of how they were stored over the years.
Now, at some juncture, we have to slide you into a 2M machine and further expand your horizons!!!! ;D ;D
Bill
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Post by gramophoneshane on Apr 18, 2007 7:38:14 GMT -5
Now, at some juncture, we have to slide you into a 2M machine and further expand your horizons!!!!
Bill
You've got that right Bill! There are some fantastic recordings on 2 min wax. And IMO, they sound so much better that 4 min records.
Good old Red Wing.. That was one of the first cylinders I owned and played, and definately influenced my love of cylinder records. I play Rainbow often too. But then, anything by Jones & Murray is great. If you ever see 2979- When Priscilla Tries To Hit High "C"- grab it. I reckon you'd like it as much as I do. Curse of an aching heart doesn't hit the mandrel to often though. Will Oakland just doesn't do it for me somehow.
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Post by maroongem on Apr 18, 2007 8:57:03 GMT -5
Shane, I def. agree with you on the 2M wax. If they are clean & mold free, they will blow you out of the room. The 4M wax if not beaten to death, will sound equally good as well as the early direct recorded BAs.
The later dubs are hit or miss as far as volume and quality but hey, ya gotta put up with it if ya want the later tunes!!!!
Will Oakland, I suppose, is an acquired taste. You don't often hear counter-tenors, so I guess if you want to round things out, you at least have to own a few of his. I have to say that I like his rendition of familiar Irish tunes, as he reminds me a bit like John McCormack.
Bill
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Post by rocky on Apr 18, 2007 18:20:25 GMT -5
I still need to get myself a Model C reproducer; then I can get into the 2 minutes. Back in the 70's I had a set of 14 8-track tapes containing over 400 2-minute cylinders. I enjoyed them to no end. However, 8-tracks are an unstable medium and the tapes all broke.  John, I agree that "Red Wing," "Case Jones," "Rainbow," and " Dixie Medley" are good records! Both "Red Wing" and "Rainbow" were also available in 2-minute format with spoken announcement. Many 4-minute cylinders are just too long....however, "Rainbow" is one delightful exception. This BA combines the Murray/Jones performance of the 2 minute with a fascinating instrumental interlude. "Red Wing" is another BA that has enjoyable variety on the 4-minute rendition that was missing from the 2-minute. Rocky |
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Post by neophone on Apr 18, 2007 18:41:32 GMT -5
....Curse of an aching heart doesn't hit the mandrel to often though. Will Oakland just doesn't do it for me somehow. Have any of you ever seen the movie Show Business with Eddie Cantor? In it he plays a romantizied version of himself, I believe. Near the beginning when he's an amateur he goes on stage during an Amateur Night at Miner's Bowery singing "Curse..." he starts to get boo-ed off and he takes the advice of a seasoned pro in the wings to start moving around and speeding up the tempo. He wins the contest. It is one of my favorite moments on film. I always wanted to hear a "straight" version of the song. It is so melodramatic ;D it makes me think of D.W.Griffith, Lillian Gish & Richard Barthelmess. ;D Regards, J. |
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Post by maroongem on Apr 19, 2007 7:52:22 GMT -5
I still need to get myself a Model C reproducer; then I can get into the 2 minutes. Back in the 70's I had a set of 14 8-track tapes containing over 400 2-minute cylinders. I enjoyed them to no end. However, 8-tracks are an unstable medium and the tapes all broke. John, I agree that "Red Wing," "Case Jones," "Rainbow," and " Dixie Medley" are good records! Both "Red Wing" and "Rainbow" were also available in 2-minute format with spoken announcement. Many 4-minute cylinders are just too long....however, "Rainbow" is one delightful exception. This BA combines the Murray/Jones performance of the 2 minute with a fascinating instrumental interlude. "Red Wing" is another BA that has enjoyable variety on the 4-minute rendition that was missing from the 2-minute. Rocky Rocky, I have Red Wing on a 2M Ind. but alas it's an instrumental........... Bill |
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ultona
Full Member
It's Not Easy Bein' Green
Posts: 164
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Post by ultona on Apr 19, 2007 8:11:50 GMT -5
There is a vocal 2 minute Indestructible of "Red Wing" out there, by "Potter and Chorus". I have it at home, cute tune!
Sean
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Post by rocky on Apr 19, 2007 17:53:37 GMT -5
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Post by rocky on May 15, 2007 11:02:07 GMT -5
Bill,
I have "Red Wing Medley," a xylophone solo on two-minute wax. I love it! Then again, maybe it's just the thrill of hearing the sound first hand from an Edison machine as opposed to listening to it on CD or MP3.
Rocky
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) ;D
