[78-L] Speaking of portable equipment/cutter back in 1940?

[simmonssomer]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Milan P Milovanovic" <milanpmilovanovic4 at gmail.com>
To: <78-l at 78online.com>
Sent: Saturday, August 22, 2009 7:40 PM
Subject: [78-L] Speaking of portable equipment/cutter back in 1940?


> Dear list members,
>
> about 3 years ago, I've heard interesting story about Norman Chalfin, who
> recorded sound for Hurston Beaufort expedition. Norman Chalfin was "audio
> technician who had accompanied Hurston and Belo to South Carolina to 
> record
> the music, religion and language of a people before their heritage and
> culture were lost to history".
>
> Also, he recorded one night club appearance of great Lester Young, in
> December 29, 1940.
>
> All those information I found here:
> http://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/0605/young.html
>
> Now, my question is: what, way back then 1940. was portable equipment? 
> Were
> those cutter machines/lathes designed for 16" blank inserts? "Audiodisc"
> sample as shown on photograph - was it amateurish or pro? If it was
> professional disc, how come that it was used on portable equipment?
>
> Judging from what can be heard from Lester Young clip (here:
> http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5344114), it is so 
> well
> recorded with rather clear frequency response down to the lowest register
> (bass drum) and way up in highest sounds of cymbals and hi-hat.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Milan Milovanovic
>
In Nov. 7, 1940 Jack Towers recorded a Duke Ellington dance date from the 
Crystal Ballroom in Fargo, North Dakota in its entirety.
He used Presto-Y Recorder using  16" aluminum based "acetates" recorded at 
33 1/3 RPM from the inside out.(15 minutesp per side)
The mikes were RCA 77C, an RCA Pressure Dynamic (solos) and an  RCA Junior 
Velocity (ribbon)
There were 2 microphone inputs on the Presto plus a pre-amp unit plugged 
into an additional remote input on the Presto.
Frequency response is very fine. Much better than the commercial releases of 
the era (naturally as  all reissues were re-mastered from the original 
discs.
and first generation tape transfers.

Al Simmons