The Wayne Adams Old 'Classic' Banjo Collection - 1897-1952, by Gérard De Smaele

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front of an alignment of acoustic horns, each time producinga small series of cylinders, which could be significantlydifferent over a number of takes. This still experimentalperiod of the first acoustic recordings is alsomarked by the diversity of components: the raw materialused in the composition of the cylinders (vegetablewaxes and other components), the number of grooves(tracks) per inch (TPI), the speed of rotation (RPM), thelength of the cylinder, the reading time (varying from 2to 4 minutes). For better quality and to be able amplifythe sound, cylinders of larger diameter were also manufactured.The ‘Concerts Records’ from Edison and the‘Graphophones Grand Records’ from Columbia, havea diameter of 5 inches and both belong to the familyof ‘brown wax cylinders’ which were fragile to handle.All this required adequate reading devices and needles.For this reason,references to therecords shouldinclude the detailof the type of cylinderor even discpresent. It shouldalways be takeninto account whenreading that theuse of an unsuitableneedle or aninadequate speedcan ruin the recording,alreadyfragile from thestart. Brown wax,7Concert, EdisonGold Molded, EdisonBlue Amberol,Columbia cylinder,Pathé cylinder…are labels printed on the protective packaging ofthe cylinders. They tell us about their specific characteristics,possibly their fragility and the limits of theirsound quality 20 .Among these first record productions, traditional musicfrom the United States is relatively underrepresented.Although there are some notable exceptions, thecollections of the Library of Congress and the recordingcampaigns of commercial firms in rural Americadid not really begin until later, in the 1920s. The acousticqualities of the classical banjo - flourishing music inthe big cities of the North East - lent themselves admirablyto this emerging technology. In the studios, VessOssman 1868-1923) and Fred Van Eps (1878-1960)were the great representatives. For their time, theiroutput was enormous.Examples of cylinders:- Hot Corn Jubilee by Vess Ossman. Edison Gold Moulded (brown wax cylinder)- Happy Days in Dixie by Vess Ossman and Rastus on Parade March by Ruby BrooksEdison Concert Record, National Phonograph Co., made in the Edison Laboratory(brown wax cylinder).In the 21st century,we no longer haveany idea of the extentof this phenomenon:a largescale productionof instruments 21 ,thousands of musicalscores; severalhundred collections,learningmethods and didacticworks; tonsof cylinders; manyspecialist journals,etc. Although thistrend runs out ofsteam in the UnitedStates after the
First World War, it continues in England 22 with thetenor banjo, and the plectrum - a five-string banjowith the fifth string amputated and played with theplectrum - also ends up becoming the most popular.Different types of cylinders. E. Kaufman’s collection,Buffalo NY.Western Electric Microphone, Model 387,Double Button Carbon Microphone, early 1920s.Together with the one developed by the Bell Laboratories,this microphone represents one of the decisive technologicaladvances in the history of sound recording.Birthplace of Country Music Museum,Bristol VA. Photo: G. De Smaele, 2018.'Edison Amberola Reader.'Birthplace of Country Music Museum,Bristol VA. Photos: G. De Smaele, 2017 et 2018.8
Page 2 and 3: CREDITS:Transfer of the originals t
Page 4 and 5: The initial attempts at the first w
Page 6 and 7: which have 4 strings of equal lengt
Page 10 and 11: Columbia “AK” Disc Graphophone,
Page 12 and 13: Weaver Banjo belonging to Englishma
Page 14 and 15: Works and links to consult:• “T
Page 16 and 17: • MacKillop Rob. Early American P
Page 18 and 19: 17First ABF Rally, October 2, 1949,
Page 20 and 21: CD 2. FRED VAN EPS.https://en.wikip
Page 22 and 23: Footnotes1. Reginald W. Bacon. Chau
Page 24 and 25: 35. The bass, or 4th string, is gen
Page 26: PUBLICATIONS BY GÉRARD DE SMAELEUS

The Wayne Adams Old 'Classic' Banjo Collection - 1897-1952, by Gérard De Smaele

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