[78-L] What's an ERPI?

[David Lennick]

I have the ten inch Frost lps..I wasn't sure if they were the same recordings 
as the 78s. I have 3 of the 12-inch 78s and one Gertrude Stein, and I thought 
that she had been recorded earlier (based on what I think it said on the 
Caedmon lp). I suspect that the Frost 78s could date from 1938, if World was 
using consecutive matrix numbers and just assigning appropriate prefixes to 
them. The discs I have bear matrix numbers B17540/1 and 17544/7, and a World 
Transcription of the Chevrolet Musical Moments series with a definite "new 1939 
Chevrolet on display this October 11" reference is BB17438. Just speculation on 
my part, but I'd say that all discs were cut by the same company.

dl


On 10/13/2011 6:55 PM, Thomas Stern wrote:
>
> Some articles found by google indicate ERPI produced sound films for the educational
> market -  from the mid 30's under direction of University of Chicago which acquired
> the company in 1943 and merged it with Encyclopaedia Britannica films.
>
> There are 5 Robert Frost discs produced about 1941 in collaboration with
> the National Council of English Teachers.  There were a couple of 10" LP's
> issued by this latter entity in the 50's.
>
> If anyone has full details of the 78's, and information about the NCoET LP's
> please post!!
> Thanks!
> Best wishes, Thomas.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: 78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com
> [mailto:78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com]On Behalf Of David Lennick
> Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2011 6:17 PM
> To: 78-L Mail List
> Subject: Re: [78-L] What's an ERPI?
>
>
> Okay, found it about 3/5 of the way down:
>
> Western Electric formed a subsidiary the following January to handle Western's
> non-telephone interests. Electrical Research Products, Inc. (ERPI) developed
> and distributed studio recording equipment and sound systems to the major
> Hollywood studios. Recognition for Western Electric's contributions to the film
> industry soon followed. In 1931, ERPI won an award from the Academy of Motion
> Picture Arts and Sciences for technical achievement. ERPl's system of noiseless
> recording was cited as "outstanding scientific achievement of the past year."
> ERPI also made sound equipment for movie theaters, which it leased, rather than
> sold- just as the Bell System had leased out the telephone equipment Western
> produced. ERPI equipped 879 movie theaters in 1928, and 2,391 in 1929. By 1932,
> only 2 percent of open theaters in America were not wired for sound. Western
> Electric proved better at wiring the nations' theaters than at maintaining that
> customer base, however, and ERPI abandoned the motion picture theater business
> in 1937. The company continued to produce sound equipment for movie studios
> until 1956, when as part of the consent decree it abandoned most non-telephone
> enterprise. The company left a legacy in the motion picture industry, one
> reminder of which is the credit at the end of many films from Hollywood's
> Golden Age: "Sound by Western Electric."
>
> There still seems to be a connection with World, since the style and numbering
> of matrices is similar. The designation "Lat" (Lateral) also appears on the
> discs, as it would on a lateral World Transcription. Not all the labels have
> the Western Electric credit, oddly enough (unless it's reduced to the point
> where I can't make it out).
>
> dl
>
> On 10/13/2011 6:00 PM, J. E. Knox wrote:
>> Greetings from FixitLand!
>>
>> David Lennick wrote:
>>
>>> Do we know anything about a company that changes its name between
>>> two issues,
>>> from ERPI CLASSROOM FILMS INC. to (or from) ERPI PICTURE
>>> CONSULTANTS? Based on
>>> the matrix numbers and other info scratched in the dead wax, it
>>> looks as if it
>>> had a connection with World Program Service. The two issues are
>>> recordings of
>>> Robert Frost reading, recorded sometime in the 30s. Gertrude Stein
>>> was also on
>>> this label.
>>
>> http://www.porticus.org/bell/westernelectric_history.html
>>
>> Take care,
>>
>>
>>
>> Joe
>> --
>> "It is impossible to keep a straight face in the presence of one or
>> more kittens."--Cynthia E. Varnardo
>>
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>>
>
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