[78-L] Edward VIII Abdication on records

[Sammy Jones]

Do you remember if the disc looked like it was meant for airplay or made for 
somebody's personal collection?

Sammy Jones

Joe Salerno wrote:
I've seen a 16" vinyl, but was not able to scan the label at the time

joe salerno


On 7/2/2012 5:29 PM, Sammy Jones wrote:
> It seems like my Edward VIII Abdicaton speech record collection keeps 
> growing!  Discussion of the commercial records of the speech comes up from 
> time to time on this list.  The last time was in March of last year.  I've 
> got the 10" Brunswick version as well as two different 12" versions.  All 
> shellac and probably available for sale in stores shortly after the 
> broadcast.
>
> I've just gotten a couple of new copies that are very interesting; perhaps 
> unique.  Both are 12" vinyl pressings by RCA .  One is single-sided and 
> recorded at
> 33 1/3.  The reverse of the disc has the RCA Victor spiderweb pattern. 
> The other is a double-sided 78.  The content of both is identical, and 
> includes an American announcer at the end that is familiar from some of 
> the commercial recordings of the speech.  These discs, however, include a 
> bit more of the announcer at
> the end, and he mentions the speech was a presentation of NBC through 
> cooperation with the BBC.  Nice to know the source of the aircheck!  The 
> handwritten label on the 33 1/3 indicates the pressing was made for Hal 
> Wallis (presumably the Hal Wallis who produced Casablanca).  Both discs 
> have white, handwritten labels.
>
> The matrix number for the 33 1/3 is VIS-6141-56.  The dead wax also says 
> #533.  The matrix numbers for the 78 sides are VIS 6145 and VIS 6146; no 
> other numbers in the wax.  Both discs are center start with arrows drawn 
> into the wax pointing to the beginning of the groove (like is often seen 
> on 1930s radio transcriptions).
>
> I'm wondering if it's possible to tell what Victor's purpose was in making 
> these discs.  Purely for paying clients who contracted for copies of the 
> broadcast?  Do ledgers exist that cover these matrix numbers?  Where were 
> the masters cut?  Calling Mike Biel!
>
> I'm also very curious to know if anyone else has seen custom-pressed 
> copies of the Abdication like this.
>
> Thanks,
> Sammy "Abdication" Jones
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-- 
Joe Salerno