Tim Gracyk's Phonographs and Old Records -- Brown Wax (original) (raw)
Unveiling the History of Brown Wax in Columbia's Phonographs with Tim Gracyk
The Brown Wax Era and Billy Murray's Unusual Cylinder
It's not every day that one stumbles upon a brown wax phonograph record featuring the legendary Billy Murray. Known for his prolific work in the early 1900s, Murray's recordings predominantly exist in black wax, which makes this particular item a fascinating anomaly in the history of phonographs.
Edison's Shift from Brown to Black Wax
The transformation in the phonograph industry from brown to black wax was a significant one, with Edison leading the way. The introduction of black wax molded cylinders in early 1902 marked the beginning of a new era in sound recording.
When Did Columbia Pivot to Black Wax?
Following Edison's footsteps, Columbia wasn't far behind with its own brown wax molded product. Drawing upon insights from Allen Koenigsberg, we dive into the transitional phase where Columbia sold off its brown wax cylinders and ushered in the era of black wax cylinders.
Columbia's Brown Wax Lingered Through the Black Wax Dawn
Despite the market's turn to black wax, evidence surfaces that Columbia continued to produce brown wax cylinders well into the 1904. A Columbia cylinder of Billy Murray singing "Meet Me In Saint Louis, Louie" indicates that brown wax was still in use even as black wax records were becoming standard.
The Overlap of Wax: Columbia's Prolonged Transition
Exploring the overlap of brown and black wax use at Columbia, we uncover that even as black wax became the norm, certain titles continued to be pressed in brown wax, possibly due to an excess of old stock or as a result of deals with companies like Sears, Roebuck and Co.
The Search for Columbia's Late Brown Wax Records
If Murray's recording on brown wax is considered late for the era, just how extensive was Columbia's use of brown wax? We investigate the highest numbered Columbia brown-colored cylinder and call upon fellow enthusiasts to shed light on the mystery by identifying any Columbia brown wax records of later vintage.
The Transition Markers: Molded Brown Cylinders
The distinction between pre-molded brown wax cylinders and the subsequent molded brown cylinders might warrant a new terminology to better categorize these historical records, as we see in the case of the mid-1904 Murray item found in brown wax.
Billy Murray's Earlier Endeavors in Brown Wax
Pointing to a lesser-known chapter in Murray's career, we look back at his beginnings with Peter Bacigalupi's brown wax cylinders in the late 1890s. Despite their scarcity, they represent an important piece of phonograph history worth exploring.
Uncle Josh's Cultural Footprint Beyond Phonographs
Culminating our journey into the world of early phonography, we reminisce about Cal Stewart's Uncle Josh, a character that leaped from brown wax cylinders to various forms of media, engraining himself into the cultural fabric of the time.
From Fading Wax to Vivid Memory—A Phonograph's Time Travel
While today's travel may take us to far-reaching destinations, exploring old records like Columbia's brown wax cylinders transports us through time to the sounds and voices of a bygone era. Discoveries like these are historic journeys unto themselves, revealing snapshots of the past with each revolution of the cylinder.
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