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

[Cary Ginell]

According to members of the Doughboys, they were still recording on wax.

Cary Ginell

> Date: Mon, 13 Dec 2010 17:59:29 -1000
> From: malcolm at 78data.com
> To: 78-l at klickitat.78online.com
> Subject: Re: [78-L] Robert Johnson records claimed to be recorded 20%
> 
> I asked Larry Cohn about this and he said he thought Johnson was 
> recorded on wax.
> I'll prod him and see if he's done any further research on this.
> It also seems I've heard somewhere that a counterweight system was used
> to drive the lathe at the San Antonio sessions, and batteries were used 
> for the electronics
> but don't hold me to it.
> Mal
> 
> *******
> 
> On 12/13/2010 5:35 PM, David Lennick wrote:
> > 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
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