[78-L] How a Columbia Record is Made (silently)

[Michael Biel]

From: Michael Shoshani <mshoshani at sbcglobal.net>

> Speaking of record manufacture, watch part 2a. It shows a surprisingly
> candid look at how the laminated records were pressed: the actual
> surface material is in pre-cut sheets, but the record core is the same
> old macadam biscuit, heated up and scrape-folded just like everyone else did.

I discussed exactly this method several times in the past few years,
mentioning that it is exactly the opposite of how I always thought these
records were made. Several years ago I had seen a quick clip of the
laminated pressing process in a film that I have been trying to locate. 
I am not sure if this is the source of the quick clip I had seen, but it
could be.  This is, of course, much longer and more detailed.  

Did you notice what was missing?  PAPER!  Is there still a paper layer
in these late 20s English Columbias?  I'm sure there is.  This would
mean that the top shellac layer is pressed to the paper, which would
explain why it is so easily handled without cracking.  It would probably
be like a Durium.  But I have never seen a Columbia laminated record
de-laminate from the core.  But I have seen this in OTHER types of
laminated records, such as the 16-inch Byers and Gennett pressings which
have clear shellac over paper which is then attached to what seems to be
a pre-pressed center blank.  

For the first couple of years, Edison records were pressed with a
pre-formed "powder blank" that has the top surface of celluloid laid on
it as a sheet.  These are the ones which also de-laminate and have
surface cracks. In the later teens the celluloid sheets were replaced
with condensite brushed onto the powder blank as a liquid.  They also
changed the wood flour core with one made of china clay which does not
absorb moisture like the earlier ones do.  


> (I'm only kidding about the biscuit being macadam. Everyone
> knows that only US Decca pressed their records in that.)

Well, when you look at the core of a broken Columbia laminated record
you see all kinds of grit that would make even a Grey Gull blush.

By the way, there should also be a Victor film just like this from the
summer of 1914.  Here is a description of it from the diary of Harry O.
Sooy that has been posted by the Sarnoff Library (and is MUST READING
for everyone).  Anybody know where this film is?

http://www.davidsarnoff.org/sooyh-maintext1909.html

"During the summer of 1914 the Talking Machine Jobbers’ Convention was
held in Atlantic City. This body consisted of dealers from all parts of
the country. The Victor Company, of course, naturally felt it was up to
them to entertain the dealers during their stay in Atlantic City, so
they conceived the idea of having motion pictures made of the entire
plant and its working departments, that the Company might show the
dealers on the screen the exact procedure of manufacturing Victor
machines and records. The motion pictures were made by Lubin and Company
of Philadelphia.

"After many days of photographing throughout the plant, I was notified
the photographer would do the Laboratory photographing June 19, 1914,
and that I should be prepared to have a picture made of the artists
while singing the “Sextet from Lucia” for a record. I had (p. 57)
the recording paraphernalia all in readiness the morning of June 19th,
and we met the artists at the ferry, bringing them to the laboratory in
automobiles. They were photographed on their arrival at the Laboratory
Building, then we proceeded to the Recording Rooms, seventh floor,
Building No. 15, where the picture was made of the artists rendering the
“Sextet from Lucia” for a record. The artists were Olive Kline,
Marguerite Dunlap, Harry Macdonough, Lambert Murphy, Reinald Werrenrath
and Wilfred Glenn. After making a picture of the artists rendering the
“Sextet,” the photographer came in the operating room and made a
picture of what he and many others thought was the actual procedure of
recording a record, but this mechanical work was arranged specially for
the motion pictures, with Yours Truly at the machine.

"After the photographing was finished in the Laboratory, the talent,
with the Victor Orchestra, were taken to Front and Cooper Streets, where
the Victor Company had a concert platform constructed on the southwest
corner, and. all the employees, representing about 10,500 in number,
were marched out with their respective departments, pictures being
continuously taken of the march. The employees were then assigned to
their respective positions, taking up the larger part of Johnson Park,
and making formations both east and west from Front Street on Cooper
Street, and north and south on Front Street from Cooper Street, after
which the artists rendered a few selections while pictures were being
taken of the whole massed group of Victor employees.

"This moving picture proved to be quite a surprise, as well as
educational and interesting to the multitude of dealers."



Mike Biel  mbiel at mbiel.com