RCA Packard Record

[operabass78s]

Found this at a flea market; Can anyone shed light on it.

It is a 12" thick vinyl disc made by RCA. The label is a white label batwing such as one would find on special pressing 78s. It has the RCA logo and the following information

LCS 83784 (B side 83785)

"Presentation of 12th Series Packard"
Packard Motor Car Company
Direction: Sound Pictures, Inc. Cleveland

It sounds like a promotional film almost. The disc runs at 33 RPM athoughit is the thickness of a 78 RPM disc. I have never seen one before. I'll try to post a picture later if my camera isn't in a mood.

[neophone]

OB,

The 12th series Packards put the date at about 1935. So this might be the soundtrack for a 1934 film.

Regards,
J.

[maroongem]

Where the speed is 33 1/3. I'm guessing this is a reissue. 1935 predates that speed quite a bit. I think it was Columbia that developed that speed after the war.

Bill

[matty]

Victor was pressing 33 1/3rpm for Vitaphone in 1927 or 28, so it may be a special pressing used in theatres?
They were doing educational films from 26-34, but I couldn't see anything about advertising on the Vitaphone Project site.
Looong Commercial Series ;D ;D ;D ;D

[matty]

I just copied this directly from the other board as posted by Electrofreak in response to some records Kalash just posted.
Hope this helps a little. None of Kalash's records have a batwing style label though.

The third disc, and probablyall three, were recorded between 1932 and 1934 or so. RCA launched a long playing record in 1932 that could carry two 12 inch sides on a 10 inch side. They were cut with a groove pitch similar to the 78 discs, but different. I have several of them, and in general I say that the audio quality of them is sub-standard. They're a nice novelty, but nothing I play for pleasure.

One year, ARSC published a discography of RCA's LP records, and the number of sides shown in it borders on being unbelievable! It was a good idea, gone wrong.

Most of them were dubs from 78 discs, and might have sounded OK, but something was missing from their recording process.

All of RCA's turntables made between 1932 and 1936 had a speed shift on them for the 33.3 RPM speed. (There were possibly two exceptions) The 1935 RCA turntables were the last ones to have the LP speed.

My feelings have always been that, had RCA adopted Edison's microgroove recording, and used the then-standard 33 1/3 speed to make those records, RCA might have scooped Columbia in 1932, rather than Columbia scooping RCA in 1948.

RCA's LP discs are often reported as being pressed from something called"Victrolite" (). I have the RCA dealer fact book from 1932, where the LP system is announced, and they tell that the material is VINYLITE!

[operabass78s]

Heres a picture



Also upon listening to the disc it has the occasional "ding" that one would hear in a slideshow for the projector operator to change the slide.

[pathe]

Hi I belive it goes with a film strip used on a machine that played both someone told me for dealerships, new model presentations etc.

I have the record only a 34 or 36 ford i'd have to check the year (everything sooooo disorganised)
Ken

[Schmaltz]

Ooooh, sweet! Thank you, operabass78s, for posting the info about that. The Twelfth Series of Packard was offered beginning in August of 1934, so Neophone was correct about the date.

I have some later discs that were issued for Packard Motor Car Co., the 16" transcription discs that were also soundtracks to slide shows (with the "ding" occurring every twelve seconds or so). Those were all from the 40s and early 50s, though, nothing as early as yours.

When the website for the Packard Club was just starting out, around 1997, I sent the webmaster RealMedia files of what was on the discs I had (the mp3 codec hadn't been released yet). They're still posted there as far as I know.

I used to own Packards, and drove them everywhere, and even though I don't have anymore old cars I still have a heart for them.

Personally, I'd love to hear what's on that disc, and if you have the time to make an mp3 of that I'd really appreciate it.

[NashTwin8]

I would also love to hear what's on your record, should you ever care to post it.

My Dad is currently restoring a 1934 (11th Series) Packard, and he has several friends who have/had 1935 Packards.

Just like you phonobugs, us old car lovers can never get enough of whatever goes with them!

Thanks!

Jerry K