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Post by neophone on Aug 29, 2008 2:29:44 GMT -5
Gents, OB's thread on the Columbia demo disc gave me the idea to start a thread on unusual records we have in our collections, special issues, private pressings &c. Here's two I just got from my god mother, neither has ever been played. I don't know anything about either other than they came from Gillette Safety Razor just down the street and they've never been played. The RCA Victor one is a very thin light vinyl, the other generic disc is a bit thicker and more rigid. I showed you mine-now show me yours. Regards, J.
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henry
Junior Member
Posts: 58
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Post by henry on Aug 29, 2008 9:23:03 GMT -5
Hi John,
I've got a couple of "private-issue" RCA Victor 78 vinyls in RED translucent vinyl, and one of them has the same neat embossed pattern on it as shown in your second image above. My Dad was an M.D. and received these records as a Christmastime promo (thus the red vinyl!?) from some drug company or other, I believe. They have similar labels: the embossed one has an angel in white garments standing on a dark green oval, with a lighter shade of green surrounding her (he? it?). The lettering reads "Christmas Greetings from RCA Victor" with the date 1947; it's a recording of "Star Dust" by Tex Beneke and his Orchestra. The other red vinyl is dated 1948 and is a double-sided recording of the second movement of the Rachmaninoff Concerto in F Minor for string bass, with Serge Koussevitsky (!) as soloist, accomp. by one Pierre Luboshutz on piano (yes, that's right, the double bass was S.K.'s instrument); its label is somewhat different: the angel is clothed in pink, holding two banners (on the left a green one with "Christmas Greetings", on the right a red one with "from RCA Victor" lettering). The divided background is white in the upper and red in the lower portions.
Of course, you and I dare not play these vinyls on our acoustic machines, and unfortunately I don't have access to a modern 78 rpm turntable. At home we played them on our big Zenith AM/FM/phonograph console, which had a four(!)-speed turntable (16, 33, 45, 78) with changer mechanism and "Cobramatic" arm and pick-up. That machine still exists, but it's not functioning; that would make a dandy restoration project for somebody with the know-how and the time (not I, on either count!).
BTW, the Gillette March was very popular in the '50s on TV when Gillette sponsored the weekly prize-fighting telecasts; it was their theme song. The words are "To look sharp every time you shave/ to feel sharp and be on the ball/ just be sharp, use Gillette Blue Blades/ for the quickest, slickest shaves of all." This little doggerel emphasized the Gillette slogan, "Look sharp, feel sharp, be sharp," which slogan I believe existed prior to the march itself. Probably every junior high band in the USA played this march during the period 1953-56 (my jr. high years).
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Post by maroongem on Aug 29, 2008 10:51:17 GMT -5
John,
Being a retired employee from there, Wendy got a kick out of seeing those Gillette recordings!!!!! Thanks for sharing!!!
Bill
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Post by lukewarmwater on Aug 29, 2008 10:59:10 GMT -5
I've posted these before on the other board, but what the heck, I'll do it again here! These are some of my stranger records that I have scans for: First black-owned record company in the world: Sacred Harp shape-note singing records: Plaid Gennett for Carnegie Institute: Florida-based label:
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Post by neophone on Aug 30, 2008 14:15:38 GMT -5
Henry,
Sound's neat-I wish you were able to post some photos. I'll have to do a search on-line see if I can find some images of those labels for us.
Bill, Oh yes I hadn't thought of that. I'll have to see about getting some mp3s or something of them like that for you and she.
Larry, yes I remember seeing your post elsewhere, those are great labels, love seeing them again. The Broome Specials are particularly interesting for me as they were a product of Massachusetts. like my beloved GGs. That Sunshine fantastic as well!
Regards, J.
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henry
Junior Member
Posts: 58
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Post by henry on Aug 30, 2008 16:22:28 GMT -5
John, Regrettably I don't have a ready method to even TAKE photos to post---I'm still strictly a film guy, no digital camera owner/user, although I do scan my film images (negatives and color positives) into Photoshop and print out on the Epson. I have too much invested in film cameras to consider switching to digital at this stage of the game. 'Course, I COULD take photos on film, get the film developed, scan it, and post it here. Might consider doing that at some point; meanwhile, I'll just have to describe them verbally.
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Post by neophone on Aug 30, 2008 17:20:29 GMT -5
Henry,
I miss taking real pictures! I just bought a roll of film a couple of weeks ago for the first time in about ten years. I got color when I'd meant to get B&W. I'n not even sure what B&W films Kodak is still manufacturing. I want to do some portrait work-just a whim
Regards, J.
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henry
Junior Member
Posts: 58
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Post by henry on Aug 30, 2008 20:32:36 GMT -5
John,
Kodak Plus-X, Tri-X, and the T-Max b/w films are still available in 35mm. Myself, I use Ilford XP2 Super b/w; it's actually developed in C-41 (color negative) chemistry, which almost any camera/drug/mass marketing store can handle, but the negatives come out looking and behaving like b/w negs. Kodak makes a similar film, TC400N. You can have b/w prints made at time of development, or scan and print the negatives yourself if you have the equipment (a dedicated 35mm scanner is best by far for this task). If you have any questions, send me a PM; I don't want to drift off-topic on this board (more than I already have)---it's a bad habit to get into!
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Post by 3victrolas on Aug 30, 2008 20:42:54 GMT -5
This label is on the back of my Victor Monarch Record #1168 For me at least, I don't come across this label very often
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Post by neophone on Aug 30, 2008 23:47:25 GMT -5
Sharon,
Neat-O, I've never seen a full label size back sticker like that or a Harmograph. That's got to be a rare bird. A product of the Shapleigh Hardware Company of St. Louis. From 1921-25 according to Barr.
Henry- ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Good to know the Tri-X is still around, I'll drop you a note some time soon.
Regards, J.
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Post by lukewarmwater on Sept 1, 2008 6:41:52 GMT -5
This label is on the back of my Victor Monarch Record #1168 For me at least, I don't come across this label very often 3vics, I bought a stack of early Monarchs (including several pre-dog labels) at an antique shop called Krantz's Antiques on Rte. 5 east of Buffalo (Pembroke perhaps?) in 1970 that all had P.A. Powers stickers just like yours on the backs. Made me smile when I saw yours . . . I was 13 when I found mine . . . memories! I paid a quarter a piece for them which was sky-high for a 78 back then . . . should have been a nickel -- or a dime at the most! John
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ultona
Full Member
It's Not Easy Bein' Green
Posts: 164
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Post by ultona on Sept 1, 2008 9:12:35 GMT -5
As promised... First, a Victor pressed HRS issue, autographed my Alma Gluck, shortly before her death: Here's the first IRCC label design, also pressed by Victor, signed by Grealdine Farrar: Another variation, also singed my Mme. Farrar: Here's one of the Christmas Greetings RCA Victors Henry mentioned, this one a repress of McCormack's "Il Mio Tesoro": This one's a neat HMV of McCormack's "Hymn To Christ The King" which has a really neat full picture back, first, here's the label side: Now the picture back: Here's another RCA Season's Greetings label: This one's another RCA custom label, not sure what this one was used for: Now an early Grey Gull, sorry it's a tad dark! Some other cool early labels: This last one is neat, a Bristish "Duophone" label claiming to be unbreakable. These have some sort of coating over a cardboard core and tend to split. The one has some crazing, but it plays great electrically. I can't imagine a steel needle would be too nice to one of these! Lots more to come.... Sean
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henry
Junior Member
Posts: 58
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Post by henry on Sept 1, 2008 9:47:19 GMT -5
Hi Sean,
Are those RCA Christmas records, the 1942 and 1945 ones, in vinyl or shellac? Or something else?! Interesting that one or the other material, or both, would not be considered a critical war-time material, thus subject to some supply restrictions. OTOH, I guess record companies DID issue product during wartime, no doubt as a morale booster.
I'm betting that the Star record from Phila. is a Mummers' "string band," so-called. Today these are mostly saxophones and banjos: makes a powerful racket marching up Broad Street on New Year's Day (right, Rocky?).
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ultona
Full Member
It's Not Easy Bein' Green
Posts: 164
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Post by ultona on Sept 1, 2008 9:53:24 GMT -5
Those RCA discs are both, actually. The two non-vocal (Toscaninis) are both shellac, the McCormack is vinyl, but black...I do have some of the red vinyl issues as well. It was remarkably quiet material at the time. Virtually silent surfaces!
I'll post lots more eventually if you folks wanna see. Odd lables are a "thing" of mine!
Sean
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Post by rocky on Sept 1, 2008 13:07:34 GMT -5
Sean, I would love to hear "I'm gonna Charleston back to Charleston" on the Clover label! I don't think I've ever heard anything on that label. Rocky
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