[78-L] Pressed in WHAT material...

[Michael Biel]

Perhaps Don meant blue label?  Assuming that we are talking about the
1906 Marconi Velvet-Tone Columbia pressings, the surfaces are indeed
black and with the exception of Martha's Spanish discs were
single-sided, with the back side having a large info label surrounded by
a cross-hatch pattern that probably was meant to grab onto the turntable
felt.  They obviously differ from regular Columbia laminated pressings
in that they are only 3-ply rather than 5 ply, not having the thick
center core and only one paper layer instead of two.  But I don't think
the surfaces are the same material as the regular laminated surfaces. 
Considering the edge chips and flakes on regular laminated discs, I
don't think the regular surfaces are as soft and pliable as the
Marconi's.  They could be celluloid or a mixture of celluloid and
shellac without filler.  

Mike Biel  mbiel at mbiel.com    


-------- Original Message --------

From: "Martha" <MLK402 at verizon.net>
> "teens threw me off ... Marconi discs were made in 1907 (into 1908?) and 
> were black, I believe. The surface might have been the same material 
> Columbia used on their laminated records, but applied to a paper base. I 
> have a few double-faced pressings, made for a Spanish-speaking market.
 
From: "David Lennick" <dlennick at sympatico.ca>
>> They were a Columbia disc product. Ads showed Signor Marconi bending one. dl

From: Don Chichester <dnjchi78 at live.com>
>>> While we're on the subject, what was the material the blue Marconi discs 
>>> of the 'teens were pressed in? Flexible, and very smooth.