[78-L] King Edward VIII 1936 Farewell Speech

[Sammy Jones]

Wow, that really sounds amazing!  I've never heard anything but the short
wave version...

I slightly misremembered about my copy of the speech on 78.  It's NOT on
Majestic.  Indeed, there is no maker or manufacturer printed anywhere on the
disc.

The label says:

Farewell Address 
Of
King Edward VIII
To the British Empire
Broadcast from Windsor Castle
December 11, 1936
Part 1 [Part 2 on reverse]

The typewritten matrix number is visible in the land between the grooves and
the label:

6635 #1 [side 1]
6735 P2 [side 2]

The matrix number on side two is a bit odd: the 3 in 6735 is printed upside
down and in reverse, and the P and 2 are printed in reverse.  The label is
gold foil, and the disc is 12" in diameter.

Onto the recording itself: 

It begins with an American announcer is mid-sentence: "...from England will
be the tolling of Big Ben.  We take you now to London."  The sound of boat
whistles on the Thames is briefly heard, then Big Ben tolls 10 o'clock;
then, "This is Windsor Castle.  His Royal Highness, Prince Edward."  Door
slam, leg thump, or whatever explanation you prefer.  The Duke speaks.  Side
one ends with the words, "...in the end be best for all."  Side two begins
with, "This decision has been made less difficult..."  Side two ends with,
"God bless you all; God Save the King!"  Several long seconds of silence.
Then an American announcer, "You have heard the words of His Former Majesty,
King Edward VIII, speaking to British subjects throughout the world."

The shortwave reception is excellent, and based on comparison with the
recording on the BBC's site, there are no words lost at the transition from
side 1 to side 2.

Any ideas about the network origin of this, or who issued the recording?

Mike, you've really got to see The King's Speech.  The broadcasting sequence
at the beginning of the film is hilarious.  I won't spoil it for you, but I
wonder how true to life it is...

Sammy Jones
 
> On 3/28/2011 6:55 PM, Mark Bardenwerper wrote:
> > On 3/28/2011 2:01, Michael Biel wrote:
> >> On 3/28/2011 12:40 PM, Sammy Jones wrote:
> >>> Are there sources for this speech other than commercial 78 records?
> >>>
> >>> Sammy Jones
> >> There is a hi-fi recording on the BBC website, but I can't find the
> link
> >> right now.
> >>
> > http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/edward_viii/12937.shtml
> >
> Yes, isn't this a wonderful sounding recording!  After hearing the
> short-waved broadcast for 50 years it is great hearing this.  There is
> an album that was the British answer to the first I Can Hear It Now
> that
> was on 78s (Oriole?) but I have on LP, the speeches of Brits like
> Churchill are hi fi but FDR and other Americans are often short-wave
> quality!
>