A "Record" Catalog

[78rpm]

Vintage Record Auction 76 is now in full swing. It is an incredible list filled with things you've never seen before. (You can rectify that by visiting our Auction Highlights page.)

 

We lead with 75 different Flexo recordings in all sizes, colors and genres. Even rarer discs are to be found in our 7" acoustic section, which features labels such as Leeds, American Vitaphone Co., Kalamazoo, Consolidated, American Talking Machine Co. and Monogram, as well as an 1898 Wonder Record (heads up for you Double-Bell Wonder machine owners!)

 

Our picture disc category includes an undocumented 5½" campaign speech by Louisiana Senator Huey Long, a 10" Cova QRS recording with Camel cigarette ads on each side and Victor 17-5003 by José Mojica. Then we move into a huge collection of demonstration records that highlights a beautiful copy of G&T 1329, "The Gramophone Introducing Itself and Returning Thanks," ca. 1906. Another treasure in this section is a super-rare copy of the first recording (May 29, 1924) to be waxed at Victor's newly constructed recording laboratory in Oakland, CA. This white label single-faced disc includes comments from plant superintendents Harry Sooy and George Hall, followed by a trumpet solo by Harvey Willetts, an old employee of the Victor Talking Machine Co.

 

There are loads of both pop and classical test pressings, including an original shellac test of an unissued King Oliver take. These are followed by a nice selection of vinyl tests, both issued and unissued.

 

You'll find 16" movie soundtrack discs including several Vitaphones (one with its original 35mm film), plus a 12" Fleischer cartoon sound track with Billy Murray.

 

There are radio transcriptions, movie promos, and a collection of instantaneous lacquers by Rosa Ponselle from her personal archive. Our 16" ETs include a complete 52 program run of "Bob Wills & his Texas Playboys" shows on Will's own Tiffany label.

 

In addition to a nice run of electrical recordings, our Diamond Disc offerings include an experimental 12" long playing pressing of Beethoven's 5th Symphony (the first recording of the Fifth on a single disc).

 

The historical category features several non-commercial Nations Forum recordings, including a special gold label pressing of the 10" Pershing speech. Also spoken word records by Muhammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shahinshah of Iran; Socialist gubernatorial candidate Joseph Wanhope; and Queen Elizabeth's first recording, made in 1940 at the age of 14.

 

Our personality, jazz, blues, country and post-war sections are all loaded with great music, fine entertainers and top rarities. You'll find Eva Tanguay on Nordskog, the Pace Jubilee Singers on Black Patti, the Jolly Two on Vocalion, Baby Rose Marie on Victor, the Baby Face Leroy Trio on Parkway and Chicago Sunny Boy on Meteor. The Gem Quality section is overloaded with delights by Charlie Johnson, Elmore James, the Moonglows, Cannon's Jug Stompers, Will Batts, the Bubbling Over Five, Jed Davenport and Charlie Patton (on a NOS copy of Vocalion 02651).

 

VRA 76 closes with a thousand cylinders representing both two and four minute formats. Highlights include a fine brown wax Bacigalupi recording of Roncovieri's American Concert Band at San Francisco in its original box, a USPC recording of "The Whistling Coon" by George W. Johnson, and an original cast recording of Felix Haney of the "Way Down East" Company on Edison Concert B-409.

 

All this awaits your consideration, in addition to thousands of more common, less expensive (but equally enjoyable) 78s, Diamond Discs and cylinders, most with $3 minimum bids.

 

You may download the entire listing (or request a mailed catalog) by going to www.78rpm.com. And be sure to tune into the 15 hour Bidder Request Show to hear some of these treasures, along with (occasionally) scintillating and insightful commentary by Mark & Kurt. Click the Bidder Request Show tab on our homepage for details.

 

Enjoy the auction and good luck with your bids!

 

Kurt & Co.