[78-L] Climax record abrupt start

[Bryan Wright]

I just picked up a Climax Double Disk record (K412), one side of which  
uses Columbia matrix 532-2, a xylophone solo by Charles Lowe of  
"Suwannee River" [sic] recorded January 1902. I was surprised when  
starting the record to hear that the beginning of the recording is  
clipped. I place the needle at the very start of the groove, but  the  
piano introduction is already in progress. I'm wondering if this might  
have originally been an announced record (mentioning Columbia at the  
start) and perhaps the Climax "reissue" I have had those first few  
revolutions of the groove polished away to remove the announcement?  
The record doesn't show any signs of tampering -- i.e., the outer edge  
looks like any other Columbia from the period, so any attempt to  
remove part of the groove must have been *very* well done. Does anyone  
have the original Columbia issue for comparison? Are clipped openings  
on Columbia-derived pressings such as this common?

Bryan W.