3 1/2" Imperial and Rex 78rpm discs from the 30's. A big small addition to the 78rpm collection.

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3 1/2" Imperial and Rex 78rpm discs from the 30's. A big small addition to the 78rpm collection.

Рет қаралды 1,673

Күн бұрын

In the early 30's, the Crystalate company (Imperial, Rex, etc...) produced some small format 78's. This is some information and background about them, including the Jack Payne disc, which is (probably) the most desirable of the series.
Also: Queen Mary's fully functional 1" dollhouse phonograph records.

Пікірлер: 35

@JeztiksOldRecordsandOtherArchi 8 ай бұрын

Great find! The contract thing that's on Jack's record is also on Reginald Dixon's record. One thing I ought to get in my collection is the Jack Payne's Party record. :)

@ninjabluewings 9 ай бұрын

Those tiny records are VERY CUTE!!!

@user-gz4tk2zw7k Жыл бұрын

There are also 3" Decca single sided 78 rpm records (30 to 40 seconds). Made for Bari-Joy, for a product called Platter Belts (1950 - 1955). Unbreakable miniature records that snap off a wearable belt to play on your phonograph. These were sold via a California department store called The Broadway, servicing Los Angeles, Hollywood and Pasadena. There were at least six Andrews Sisters titles produced at this size. It’s interesting to note that the catalog numbers match those of the 10” records, even though they are re-orchestrated. - James (Roaring20s).

@MarkAtnip Жыл бұрын

That's really neat! I have seen a miniature Decca disc in the past, but I had no idea where it came from. Do you have any info regarding titles or any photos?

@billglynn4883 Жыл бұрын

Noma plastics made a model train station for O gauge track back in the 50's that played tiny 78 rpm records announcing train departures. There are records for steam and for diesel engine sounds. The player itself is an acoustic unit. Also, Gilbert made an Erector set that had a small 78 rpm acoustic player and a small record that had steam engine sounds on one side and circus (calliope) sounds on the other.

@MarkAtnip Жыл бұрын

That is amazing and fascinating. I am going to have to do a search for these! While I have seen small plastic discs that play at (around) 78rpm that were intended for use with various toys, I haven't seen seen the Gilbert or Noma discs (that I am aware of). Thanks for the information and education!

@zenithcoinsandhobbies 4 ай бұрын

@MarkAtnip Gilbert made two smaller discs. One as described up above, and a second, which I believe is more common. That one came in a special train station, similar to the Noma one. One side was steam train noises and a train conductor announcing where the train is going, and the other side is the same, except it has diesel train noises. The accessory is fairly inexpensive. Without the reproducer, they're about $40. The records are often worn out due to kids not remembering to put a new steel needle into the reproducer. There are people who make reproductions of them as well.

@mrrgstuff 10 ай бұрын

As a UK collector, very interesting to see this video. I was aware of these little Imperials, but never have seen one myself and don't think I have heard that one before either. Thanks 😀 👍

@guyindiman8701 Жыл бұрын

Between 1914 and 1923, there was a record company called "Little Wonder". Their discs were about 6 inches across. They were an independent company but they contracted with Columbia Graphophone Company to cut, plate and press the discs. They were pressed on solid shellac (without the usual paper layers used in Columbia's discs). As it happens, the performances were by Columbia artists. The average playing time per side (they cut one side only) was about 1 minute and 30 seconds, about half of the normal playing time of one ten-inch disc (3 minutes). Columbia would record the 3 minute version. Then they rearranged the music to end after 90 seconds and recorded the abreviated version on the 6 inch disc. But the format was still owned by the "Little Wonder" company. They even manufactured a miniature phonograph on which to play them. They can still be played on a modern manual turntable (such as Audio Technica). I have 16 of these.

@MarkAtnip Жыл бұрын

There are some really fun Little Wonder discs! There were a LOT of major stars who appeared uncredited on them! Al Jolson, Collins and Harlan, etc... For everyone else (because guyindiman has already done his homework!) these are often mistaken for kids records because of their size, but they were actually just a small-format budget brand that produced (as guyindiman points out... through Columbia) small and cheap discs for grownups. They were not only cheap because of the size, but because the artists weren't credited, they avoided paying royalties as well. They usually presented popular music but only one with one verse and maybe a chorus. They are a really fun novelty to research.

@AlbertBenajam-ww1db 4 ай бұрын

There were a few children records, very few. There was a very rare record of Caruso (uNcredited) made from 1900 era cyliders from defunct form but Victor stopped it. There were also Little Wonder machines. I've seen children's models that had mitho on metall images of kids playing in park. Also one that looked like 1/2 size cigar box from outside mut when lod raised had small turntable. Branded LITTLE WONDER.

@bobbyknight3589 4 ай бұрын

That sweet man man. I never use they made em even 😂

@vwestlife Жыл бұрын

Is that Jack Payne record one of the first which fades out at the end? Fade-out endings became common later on, but were rare during the 78 RPM era.

@MarkAtnip Жыл бұрын

I thought it was really early for a fade out when I was listening to it! I don't have enough info on fade-outs, but I will do some digging.

@pablov1973 Жыл бұрын

@@MarkAtnip The best place to find a reference about fade out is in classical music in those recordings of pieces that doesn't fit on a single side, like overtures, symphonies and concertos. What was common was to find ending point in the score with the artist and continue the work on another side just by repeating the last first beat of the previous side. Fade in and fade out was quite rare during the 78 years.

@pablov1973 Жыл бұрын

Maybe it was a dub of previous recording material and they just fade out because doesn't fit on a 3 1/2" record.

@bmeier4797 Жыл бұрын

I recall hearing an acoustic record once where they did a "fade out" by slowly stepping away from the machine while they were recording. Obviously very different from this kind of fade out, but it was very interesting to hear. I think it was by the American Quartet though I can't remember what song it was.

@tsuwaque Жыл бұрын

I just can't get enough of your videos, nice one as always! Would've loved to hear that 1" record! The Jack Payne one sounds compressed, is it because of the grooves being smaller or did you apply denoising to it?

@MarkAtnip Жыл бұрын

It's quite compressed. I recorded it at a low level after failing to change the settings from a previous recording. Good ear! : ) After being away for a bit, I have a million things to catch up on. If I finagle some time, I will do a proper transfer and post it.

@dkoopman Жыл бұрын

Great video! I really enjoyed it.

@zachmc2281 Жыл бұрын

love this video. Keep them coming. Great place to learn.

@burmesecolourneedles4680 Жыл бұрын

Wonderful! Yes, they ARE shellac. Crystalate sold a material for record pressing to Nicole, a very early English record company which may have been related to their original billiard ball material, but that was long before Crystalate produced their own records (all on shellac). I have a collection of these tiny ones myself. Also I wrote and co-presented a radio documentary on the Crystalate company on regional BBC some years ago - I might upload it at some point but I'm slightly fearful of the copyright issue!

@MarkAtnip Жыл бұрын

I would enjoy hearing your BBC commentary. Please notify me if a copy becomes available. I have no idea what the copyright for broadcast material is in the UK. Perhaps the BBC has a playable/linkable copy. Perhaps some time in the future I will have time to do deeper dives into companies like Crystalate. There is a lot of interesting history there.

@fernandozaike6044 Жыл бұрын

Love your video. Very informative. Keep them coming!

@AlbertBenajam-ww1db 4 ай бұрын

Tiny phonograph record were used in TALKING VIEWMASTER, Yhey were afixed to fr9nt of special vewmaster disks, the disks were ckearplas5ic ss light went thu to see 3D images. Philco mase 3inch 45rph records called HipPocket rec9rds to be played by pocket sized player. They were round soud sheets. They eere of rock jits from various label but NOT VZictor or Columbia. Arpund 196i for several years.

@user-gz4tk2zw7k Жыл бұрын

These are the six that I know of; "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen", "Beer Barrel Polka", "Pennsylvania Polka", "Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar", "Apple Blossom Time", and "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Co. B". Each time I add the links to popsike my message disappears. You can search the titles I've listed instead. Here's the information that I put together a few years ago ... MINI RECORD Andrews Sisters BOOGIE WOOGIE BUGLE BOY ... MINI RECORD Andrews Sisters BEAT ME DADDY 8 TO THE BAR, each of these has a sound file too.

@user-gz4tk2zw7k Жыл бұрын

While researching the Andrews Sisters records, these was also found. A mini Decca disc for Russ Morgan “Does Your Heart Beat For Me”. AND From Billboard Jan. 1955 this announcement … MINI 78'S TO PROMOTE ‘OLD’. HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 25.- Lew Chudd, president of Imperial Records, Inc., began the mailing of miniature 78 r.p.m. recordings to more that 2,000 disk jockeys and distributors thru out the nation this week, a promotional tie-in on the Slim Whitman recording of "When I Grow Too Old to Dream.’ Disk, which measures three inches in diameter, has a 40-second spot recorded by Jose Ferrer, plugging the song from the M-G-M Sigmund Romberg biopic, "Deep in My Heart.’ Record can be played by disk jockeys with standard 78 r.p.m. recording equipment.

@MarkAtnip Жыл бұрын

I contacted a fellow collector who has several of these and he mentions that all of his are apparently either plastic or polystyrene. He is going to get me the titles. All of his are on the Decca label.

@henkgloudemans8886 Жыл бұрын

I have also 2 of them ! they are on my channel.

@MarkAtnip Жыл бұрын

Everyone head over here if you want to hear other discs from the series, as I don't plan on uploading additional ones. Thanks a lot for letting us know!

@henkgloudemans8886 Жыл бұрын

@@MarkAtnip

@annietemple6131 6 ай бұрын

Hey there-- I'm ALWAYS on the lookout for any 4" Durium records. Please help me out if you can..? I live in Fort Scott, Kansas. Thanks-!! Annie Temple

@MarkAtnip 6 ай бұрын

Contact Scott at the Vintage Music Company in Minneapolis. He picked up a stash of 3" and 4" Durium discs recently from a European collector. He might have some available.

@burmesecolourneedles4680 Жыл бұрын

Hi again Mark, I tried a couple of times to post a reply to your reply, but it seems to get deleted - I hope you receive this comment! - Your video and our comments have prompted me to finally upload the Crystalate radio documentary (there seems to be plenty of BBC material here on YT from various sources, so I guess it will be fine!) - anyway, HERE IT IS: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/Z9x2dcyLnM_WYqs.html

@MarkAtnip Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sending this! I will be checking it out in the next day or so!