[78-L] Gennett recording files

[Malcolm Rockwell]

Photostat ledger copies from 1916 - 1919? Not that I've found. I do have 
copies made by George Blacker and Walter C. Allen ostensibly from the 
original Starr ledgers (which have since disappeared).
Blacker and Allen's copies still survive (I have them as photocopies). I 
do know that many of the vertical recordings made in NYC on the (US) 
Starr label were also issued later on Gennett. And, further, that some 
of the Gennett 4500 series were issued using both the circle and the 
six-sided labels when they switched over from one design to the new one. 
Both label issues are verticals.
The earliest ledger copies I physically have are (New York) 10/24 (mx 
9141 on) and (Richmond) 10/24 (mx 12053 on). The earliest recording 
cards I've seen are from (New York) June 06/20 (mx 8289) and none from 
Richmond  I suspect that earlier ledger copies may be held by some older 
collectors but, if so, they have not been forthcoming. If anyone out 
there in 78-L land has such please let me know. We should talk.
Malcolm

*******

On 12/27/2012 2:47 PM, Harold Aherne wrote:
> Thanks, I was hoping you might chime in! Do you happen to know how early the Gennett ledgers go, i.e. do they include any of the vertical-cut masters from 1916-19?
>   
> -HA
>
> --- On Thu, 12/27/12, Malcolm Rockwell <malcolm at 78data.com> wrote:
>
>
> From: Malcolm Rockwell <malcolm at 78data.com>
> Subject: Re: [78-L] Gennett recording files
> To: "78-L Mail List" <78-l at klickitat.78online.com>
> Date: Thursday, December 27, 2012, 12:41 PM
>
>
> Yes. The "c." was there because either the Starr recording cards had not
> been located or, in Brian's case, the dates were extrapolated from
> existing, surrounding data. There could be a lag of from 2 days to 2
> weeks from the time the masters were boxed for shipment to get from New
> York to Richmond. Sometimes different take arrived on different dates
> even though they both (supposedly) went out of New York at the same time.
> The existing recording cards at the Indiana Historical Society and
> Rutgers give exact recording dates for many of the inexact dates
> extrapolated by Brian, as well as many other little technical details.
> At the IHS some of the cards give mic placement diagrams on the backs of
> the cards from when Starr switched from acoustic to electric recording.
> I almost flipped when I discovered them!
> Malcolm
>
> *******
>
> On 12/27/2012 8:21 AM, Harold Aherne wrote:
>> It occurred to me a few years ago as I was reading Brian Rust's Guide to Discography that the only American companies for which we have much in the way of pre-1920 recording files are Victor, Columbia (from 1910) and Edison (cash books from 1904, along with [I think] ledgers for most disc masters). For most of the smaller labels that existed in this period, we have to rely on the records themselves, as well as catalogues, to determine what they recorded and issued.
>> I've read varying reports on how much of the Gennett ledgers are still around. It seems thatmost or all of the Richmond sessions are accounted for, but New York sessions are often given with a "c." in Rust's publications and similar works. Anyone know more details?
>> -HA
>> _______________________________________________
>>