[78-L] Robert Johnson records claimed to be recorded 20%

[David Lennick]

Just curious..would Vocalion have still been cutting on wax in 1936-7 or 
started using lacquers? Especially on field trips, I'd think lacquers would be 
easier to deal with. But I'm not familiar with when various labels started 
weaning themselves off the wax blocks..English Columbia was still using them in 
the late 40s.

dl

On 12/13/2010 9:39 PM, Doug Pomeroy wrote:
> If the wax engravings were played back on the cutters on which they were
> cut, then of course they would have sounded at the proper pitch,
> regardless
> of the actual speed.  The waxes could not be played back without being
> destroyed,
> so the only discs played at the original sessions would have been
> those specifically
> made as tests (and assuming Vocalion had the lightweight reproducing
> stylus made
> specifically for playing the soft wax, which is doubtful), but this
> still means they
> would NOT have noticed any speed error, relative to 78.26 rpm.
>
> Still, SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE, playing the test pressings or the final
> released discs
> at 78.26 rpm would probably have noticed something a bit strange...
>
> For some unknown reason I cannot download any of the slowed down mp3's,
> so I can't hear for myself.  Anyone else having this problem?
>
>> Speed variations do occur on recording equipment,
>> possibly more so on remote locations, but not through entire
>> sessions..SOMEBODY
>> would have noticed when the tests were played back.
>>
>> dl
>
> Doug Pomeroy
> POMEROY AUDIO
> Audio Restoration&  Mastering Services
> Transfers of metal parts, lacquers,
> shellac and vinyl discs&  tapes.
> 193 Baltic St
> Brooklyn, NY 11201-6173
> (718) 855-2650