Mainspring Press

   Books, CDs and Articles: 78 rpm Records • Cylinder Records • Phonographs   


  “The benchmark publisher for well-researched, literate recorded sound scholarship”
   – ARSC Journal

   
   
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Latest Release
  

Recording the '30s: Evolution of the American Recording Industry, 1930-1939

RECORDING THE ’THIRTIES
  

The Evolution of the American
Recording Industry, 1930–39

By Allan Sutton

The latest installment in the EAR Series chronicles an often overlooked and misunderstood decade in the history of the American recording industry. The industry did not go into hibernation during the 1930s, as is so often written. New labels were launched even during the darkest days of 1930–31, and the mid-1930s saw a blossoming of new independent labels. This was also the decade in which the record industry lost its innocence, with the introduction of adult “party record” labels, the exploitation of recordings for political propaganda. There were questionable dealings between record companies and jukebox operators, revelations of dangerous working conditions in the pressing plants, and increasingly strident demands by union leaders that the record companies share their newfound wealth.



New Release

Indestructible & U-S Everlasting Cylinder Records

  
INDESTRUCTIBLE AND U-S EVERLASTING CYLINDERS
  
An Illustrated History and Cylinderography

By Kurt Nauck & Allan Sutton

Indestructible and U-S Everlasting Cylinders is the first new study of these records in five decades. It covers all brands and series and includes release dates, composer credits, alternate versions, and other data, while correcting the many errors and omissions in the old Deakins and Annand guides.

The cylinderography — based on extensive examination of the original records, box lids, catalogs, and advertisements — corrects the errors and omissions found in earlier guides and includes much previously unpublished data.

The introductory history is the first fully detailed and properly documented study of the companies and people who produced these cylinders. Richly illustrated, it is based on original legal papers, patent filings, newspaper and trade journal reports, the papers of J. Louis von der Mehden (U-S Everlasting’s musical director), and other primary-source materials. Additional features include a pictorial guide to boxes, lids, and rims; a user’s guide; notes on scarcity and value; and artist and title indexes.


Mainspring Press Books
 

THE VICTOR DISCOGRAPHY SERIES

By John R. Bolig
   
Winner of the ARSC 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award

John Bolig strips away years of published guesswork and fabricated data to offer the first accurate look at exactly what is — and is not — contained in the original Victor files. All volumes in the Victor Discography Series are compiled entirely from original sources, including the Victor Talking Machine Company, RCA Victor, and Gramophone Company files, catalogs and supplements, and the records themselves.
  

The Victor Red Seal Discographies:
  Volume I • Single-Sided Series
  Volume II • Double-Sided Series to 1930

The Victor Black Label Discographies:
  Volume I • 16000 / 17000 Series
  Volume II • 18000 / 19000 Series
  Volume III • 20000 / 21000 SeriesNew
  Volume IV • 22000 / 23000 Series — Coming in 2012

  
Other Victor Discographies:
  Victor Blue, Green and Purple Label Series (1909–1926)

“What distinguishes this discography is that the information originates entirely
 from  original sources. John Bolig continues to raise the bar, setting new  standards in discographical work.” — The Record Collector (UK)

The Victor Records Discography Series by John Bolig

Congratulations to John Bolig,
winner of the 2010
ARSC Lifetime
Achievement Award


“Significant contributions to discographic research... invaluable to sound archives,  researchers, and serious collectors.”
Notes (Journal of the Music
Library Association)

“Carefully prepared work...The true enthusiast cannot manage without all the  resources mentioned  here.”
ARSC Journal

  


  
THE EVOLUTION OF AMERICAN RECORDING (EAR Series)

By Allan Sutton
  

A Phonograph in Every Home


 

A PHONOGRAPH IN EVERY HOME
The Evolution of the American Recording Industry, 1900–1919

"Sutton takes readers on a tour of the development of the phonograph and the beginnings
 of the American recording industry... Appeals to anyone interested in music and early
 20th century pop culture." — Book News


Browse the 1900–1919 Subject Index in Adobe Acrobat


Our most popular title

RECORDING THE 'TWENTIES
The Evolution of the American Recording Industry, 1920–1929

“Most brilliantly original in its examination of commercial issues... a book worth
 reading and using.” — ARSC Journal


“Without question the definitive account of the recording industry in the 1920s,
 and raises the bar for all future studies.” — Vintage Jazz Mart

Browse the 1920–1929 Subject Index in Adobe Acrobat


 
78 rpm Records - LITTLE WONDER & BUBBLE BOOKS
 

LITTLE WONDER RECORDS AND BUBBLE BOOKS
  
An Illustrated History and Discography

By Tim Brooks with Merle Sprinzen

Collectors have long been intrigued by Little Wonder. They look like children's records, but the repertoire was mostly the popular hits of the day. Selling for just a dime, the little discs caused an uproar in a complacent recording industry, and they sold by the millions.

Grammy Award winner Tim Brooks and Little Wonder detective and archivist Merle Sprinzen reveal the full story behind these labels and unmask the anonymous artists in a book that contains many surprising new discoveries.


Edison Blue Amberol Cylinders

View Sample Pages
in Adobe Acrobat

     

EDISON BLUE AMBEROL CYLINDERS — New Expanded Edition

The Complete Blue Amberol Cylinderography:
U.S., Foreign, and Special Issues
(1912–1929)

By Allan Sutton

The only fully detailed cylinderography of Edison Blue Amberols — now thoroughly updated using Edison file materials and Edison National Historic Site data that were not accessible when the original edition was compiled. This edition has been expanded to include listings of foreign-catalog, additional private and special-use issues, and a new illustrated historical introduction.

Newly added features — much of it published here for the first time — include personnel of backing groups, Diamond Disc disc takes used for dubbing, and other details not found in the original edition.
  


ARSC
Certificate
of Merit


Edison Discography by Raymond Wile
    

THE EDISON DISCOGRAPHY: THE FINAL YEARS (1926–1929)

Diamond Discs, Needle Types, 20- and 40-Minute Records, Samples, Experimentals, Radio Transcriptions, and Special-Use Recordings

By Raymond R. Wile


“Wile's reputation for methodical, painstaking research is continually in evidence in this  discography... an important volume.” — Notes (Journal of the Music Library  Association)

“A fine reference work not just for record collectors but also those interested in
 Edison, popular culture, and musical taste in the 1920s.”— Book News


 
ARSC Award
for Excellence

Plaza Music Co. 78-rpm records
 

THE PLAZA–ARC DISCOGRAPHY — Volume I
U.S. Issues, Mxs. 5001–11082 (1922–1931)

By Billie W. Thomas & Allan Sutton
Foreword by Randall Stehle

Covering Banner, Conqueror, Domino, Jewel, Oriole, Regal, and their many associated
labels, The Plaza–ARC Discography is the only guide to these labels to have been
compiled from firsthand examination of the actual records, correlated with what remains
of the original company documentation.

This remarkable volume is the result of more than five decades' research by the late
Billie W. Thomas in association with the contributors to the legendary collectors' journal Record Research, posthumously compiled and annotated by Allan Sutton.


Special Price
Limited Quantities

American Stage Stars - Discography

  
We're nearly sold out of this popular title

THE AMERICAN STAGE PERFORMERS DISCOGRAPHY
Actors, Vaudevillians, and Musical Comedy Stars
(Volume I: 1891–1932)

By Allan Sutton

The American Stage Performers Discography covers the recordings of than 460 stage stars — from the legitimate theater to musical comedy, vaudeville, and burlesque — on original 78s, cylinders, and soundtrack discs. Also included are capsule biographies detailing highlights and little-known facts of each performer's career, compiled from the playbills, entertainment papers, reviews, and news reports of the day.
   


Mainspring Press CDs

Setting New Standards for Convenience and Affordability
   
Fully searchable on any word, phrase, number, etc.  
 Bookmark links to chapters and sections
Instant on-screen type scaling

For Windows • Mac OS-X compatible* • Adobe Acrobat or Acrobat Reader required     

  
78 rpm Records - NATIONAL MUSIC LOVERS & NEW PHONIC

New Release

NATIONAL MUSIC LOVERS AND NEW PHONIC RECORDS
A Discography

National Music Lovers records — with their confusing multiple versions, false
or missing matrix numbers, alternate takes, artist aliases, retitled songs, and ever-changing master sources — have long been a challenge for collectors and researchers. Help is finally here, with the first fully detailed, properly
documented discography devoted to NML and its successor, New Phonic.

By Allan Sutton


BRIAN RUST - JAZZ RECORDS 1897-1942

  
Free Shipping Worldwide

JAZZ & RAGTIME RECORDS, 1897–1942

The final and most complete edition of the late Brian Rust's classic jazz discography — out-of-print in book form, but now available as an affordable,
fully searchable CD-ROM. Royalties on sales are donated by the Rust estate
to benefit prostate cancer research.

By Brian Rust
   


RAGTIME DISCOGRAPHY - 78 rpm records and cylinders


Includes 98 Historic Recordings in MP3 Format

THE RAGTIME DISCOGRAPHY, 1894–1960
Cakewalks, Rags and Novelties on 78s and Cylinders

Our first multimedia offering, The Ragtime Discography includes full-color reproductions of 50 rare sheet-music covers, plus 98 early ragtime recordings
in MP3 format. A revised and greatly expanded version of the author's 2003 Cakewalks, Rags and Novelties, this new edition now includes records
issued through the end of the 78-rpm era.

By Allan Sutton
  


78 rpm Records - VARSITY and VOCALION DISCOGRAPHIES

THE VARSITY DISCOGRAPHY

Volume I: United States Record Corporation Series

Includes original issues from USRC masters and the reissues from Crown,
Gennett, Paramount, Ultraphon, etc.

By Allan Sutton


  
THE VOCALION DISCOGRAPHY

Volume I: 14000 Series

By Allan Sutton
  


   
78 rpm Records - MONTGOMERY WARD DISCOGRAPHY
   

ARSC Award for Excellence

MONTGOMERY WARD RECORDS: A DISCOGRAPHY

The complete issues, including the Victor, Decca, and Varsity series

By Allan Sutton


    
VICTOR TALKING MACHINE CO. - Monthly Catalogs 1904-1906
   

VICTOR RECORD MONTHLY CATALOG SUPPLEMENTS **

Volume I: 1904 / 1905 / 1906

This remarkable compilation features more than 300 carefully restored monthly supplement pages and covers — A treasure-trove of artist photos and biographical information, Victor company news, and discographic data.

** Requires a JPG viewer or editor (Windows Picture Viewer, QuickTime,     
   any version of Photoshop, etc.)

  
*
Mainspring CDs are compatible with Windows, Mac OS-X, and other Macs capable of reading Acrobat (PDFf) files from Windows-formatted CDs. Auto-start feature is enabled only for Windows PCs; on Macs, files are opened from the
directory or desktop. Adobe Acrobat or Acrobat Reader (available free at www.adobe.com) is required.
    

Coming Attractions

Visit the Mainspring Newsletter for details on forthcoming titles

 


Information for Collectors and Researchers

78 rpm Records • Cylinders • Phonographs • Recording Industry History


Online Articles and Discographies

  
The Mainspring Record Collectors' Blog

Ordering & Shipping Information

V
isit the Catalog Page or click the individual title links for prices and secure online ordering
        

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Shipping: Free standard shipping (4–7 business days) to U.S. and Canadian addresses. Orders of $99 or more shipping to U.S. Zip Codes receive a complimentary upgrade to Priority Mail (2-3 business days). Foreign prices include shipment via
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Dealers and Distributor Orders: Please see the Purchase Order Page for current discounts and terms.

Institutional Orders: We welcome purchase orders (60 days net) from non-profit institutions with verifiable ID and
tax-exempt number. Institutional discounts are not offered at this time. Most titles are also available from YBP, Blackwells,
Baker & Taylor, and other major library distributors; however, to avoid distributor markups and ensure fastest delivery, we recommend ordering directly from Mainspring Press.


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