Resources for collectors of vintage cylinder and 78 rpm records

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 Coming in July

The Mainspring Vintage 78 Record Auction

Many choice items, along with a large selection of more affordable records — all carefully graded and in great condition


Windows CDs from
Mainspring Press Digital

Convenient, affordable, and environmentally friendly

2009 ARSC Awards Finalist

MONTGOMERY WARD RECORDS:
A Discography

Allan Sutton
Windows CD-ROM version

Compiled from company recording files and the Ward catalogs, Montgomery Ward Records contains a wealth of discographic detail for collectors of country, blues, gospel, jazz, big band, and ethnic music 78 records. Not available in book form.




JAZZ AND RAGTIME RECORDS (1897–1942)
Brian Rust
Windows CD-ROM version


A reissue of the complete 6th Edition of this classic work, which is now out of print in book form. Quickly locate names, titles, dates, or any other terms using the convenient bookmarks and search engine.

 



PSEUDONYMS ON AMERICAN RECORDS (1892–1942)   
Allan Sutton
Windows CD-ROM version

A reissue of the complete Second Revised & Expanded Edition (2005), unmasking thousands of artist aliases on cylinder and 78 records.


About Mainspring CDs

Mainspring's CD line includes original, CD-only titles, as well as reissues of popular out-of-print books.

Features include search engines, bookmark links, and instant on-screen type scaling for exceptional ease of use.

CDs are licensed for single-user, non-commercial use. Files may be copied to a single hard drive, and pages may be printed or e-mailed (subject to license restrictions). Not licensed for library use or for distribution via a network or by other means.

System Requirements:
  • Windows 98 or later (2000, XP or Vista recommended)
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader (5.0 or later; latest version may be downloaded free of charge at www.abode.com)
  • Minimum 256 megabytes of RAM (512 mb or more recommended)
  • Minimum 20 megabytes of free hard-disc space, if copying to hard drive
  • CD-ROM drive
  • Auto-start capability*
  • Two-button mouse, preferably with scroll button

* Files can be opened manually from the CD or hard-drive directory on systems without auto-start capability.


FREE ONLINE
ARTICLES:

The Billy Murray Pages
Articles and Photo Features on The Denver Nightingale's Life, Career, and Recordings (Latest Updates: 7/1/2009)

NEW  Bob Roberts (American Recording Pioneers Series)

NEW  Billy Murray's Last Records — The Bluebird and Beacon Annotated Discographies
Updated: 4/8/2009

Flo Bert: A Case of Discographic Mistaken Identity — Allan Sutton

"A Miniature Concert" — The Earliest Issued Victor Electrical Recordings — Allan Sutton

Edison Diamond Disc Manufacturing Processes Paul B. Kasakove

Edison Disc Record and Phonograph Sales Statistics (1912–28) — Courtesy of the Edison National Historic Site

"Discontinuing Record Production" —
Documents from the Final Days at Edison
— ENHS

Caruso and Discography: A Conversation with
John Bolig
— John Bolig with Barry Ashpole (ARSC Journal)

Unmasking the "World's Greatest Music" Albums (1938–40) — Allan Sutton

"Bixing" — Myths, Lies, and Political Correctness in Jazz Research
Malcolm Shaw

Dating Paramount's
L-Series Matrixes

Alex van der Tuuk


Disguised White Performers on Black Swan Records :
A Pseudonym Listing
  

A Prehistory of Ada Jones (1889–1905) — Allan Sutton

The Sears Roebuck Labels: An Illustrated History of Oxford, Silvertone, Challenge, Conqueror, and other Sears Brands
Allan Sutton

Uncle Josh's Punkin Centre Stories — Cal Stewart as Author, Publisher, and Entrepreneur

Pioneer Recording Artist Photo Galleries — J. J. Bain Collection, Library of Congress



COMPLETE INDEX OF FREE ONLINE ARTICLES

  
Mainspring Press Books
Free U.S. shipping •  Complimentary Priority Mail upgrade for orders of $99 or more


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

RECORDING THE 'TWENTIES

The Evolution of the American Recording Industry, 1920–29

Allan Sutton

Recording the 'Twenties chronicles the development of the American recording industry in response to changing musical styles, increasingly diverse markets, competition from new labels, the introduction of electrical recording, and the challenges posed by radio, "talkies," corporate takeovers, and foreign ownership. Based on extensive study of primary-source materials, Recording the 'Twenties dispels commonly accepted myths and misinformation and provides the first comprehensive, thoroughly documented survey of this pivotal period in American entertainment and sound recording.

  

   
New Release

Victor Black Label Records: 18000/19000 Series

"John Bolig continues to raise the bar, setting new   standards in discographical work."
   — The Record Collector (UK)

THE VICTOR BLACK LABEL DISCOGRAPHY
Volume II: 18000 / 19000 Series

John R. Bolig

The latest installment in the Victor Discography Series, with many previously unpublished discographic details from the original Victor Talking Machine Co. and Gramphone Co. files. This volume covers Victor's 10" black-label releases from World War I through the dawn of the Jazz Age and the early electrical era.


      

Edison Record Discography - Raymond Wile

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


THE EDISON DISCOGRAPHY (1926–29)


Raymond R. Wile

The first volume in the Edison Discography Series, by ARSC Lifetime Achievement Award winner Raymond Wile. Compiled from the original Edison files and Edison National Historic Site data, this installment covers Diamond Discs, Needle-Types, 24- and 40-Minute Records, Sample Records, dubbed Blue Amberols, experimentals, radio transcriptions, and other special-use recordings.

  

   

Victor 78 Records Discography: Black Labels


THE VICTOR BLACK LABEL DISCOGRAPHY

Volume I: 16000 / 17000 Series

John R. Bolig

The first installment in the Victor Black Label series offers full discographic details for every version of every 16000- and 17000-series issue, compiled from the original Victor Talking Machine Co. and Gramophone Co. files, correlated with the original records, catalogs, and supplements.

   

   

American Stage Performers Discography - Actors, Vaudevillians, Musical Comedy Stars

THE AMERICAN STAGE PERFORMERS DISCOGRAPHY

Actors, Vaudevillians, and Musical Comedy Stars (Volume I: 1891–1932)

Allan Sutton

Discographies of more than 460 stage stars, from legitimate theater to vaudeville and burlesque. The accompanying capsule biographies, compiled from original playbills, news reports, and entertainment papers, detail each performer's career. Covers over 10,000 cylinders, 78-rpm records, radio transcriptions, and synchronized soundtrack discs.




Victor 78 records - Red Seal Discography

THE VICTOR RED SEAL DISCOGRAPHY
Volume I: Single-Sided Series


THE VICTOR RED SEAL DISCOGRAPHY
Volume II: Double-Sided Series to 1930


John R. Bolig


Save on the two-volume set


"Red Seal" is a trademark of BMG Music. Used with permission.




78 Records - THE PLAZA MUSIC CO - AMERICAN RECORD CORP DISCOGRAPHY

ARSC 2007 Award for Excellence
 

THE PLAZA–ARC DISCOGRAPHY, Volume I
U.S. Issues, Mxs. 5001–11083 (1922–31)


Billie W. Thomas & Allan Sutton
Foreword by Randall Stehle

Covering Banner, Domino, Regal, and their many associated labels. Winner of the Association for Recorded Sound Collections' 2007 Award for Excellence in Historical Recorded Sound Research




PARAMOUNT RECORDS - ILLUSTRATED HISTORY

Featured on "The History Detectives" (PBS)

PARAMOUNT'S
RISE AND FALL

An Illustrated History

Alex
Van der Tuuk

VICTOR DISCOGRAPHY: GREEN, BLUE & PURPLE LABELS

THE VICTOR DISCOGRAPHY:
Green, Blue and Purple Labels


1909–1926


John R. Bolig

     
GEMS: VICTOR LIGHT OPERA CO. DISCOGRAPHY

This title is
temporarily
out of print

GEMS: THE VICTOR
LIGHT OPERA COMPANY
DISCOGRAPHY

1909–1930

John R. Bolig

     
CARUSO RECORDS - A HISTORY AND DISCOGRAPHY

     
CARUSO RECORDS
A History and
Discography

John R. Bolig

John R. Bolig

The Victor Black Label Discography

Volume III: 20000 / 21000 Series

The third installment in the Victor Black Label series, covering the records of the Orthophonic age, compiled from data in the original Victor Talking Machine Co. files.

Projected release date: October 2009



     

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NEW  The Artifacts of Recording History: Creators, Users, Losers, KeepersTim Brooks

NEW  Jelly Roll Morton's Pre-Victor Band Recordings: A Comparative Discography Model

NEW  Theater-Use Records and the "Talkie" TransitionAllan Sutton

NEW  Cal Stewart's Recording Contracts (American Recording Pioneer Series)

NEW  My Twin — The Phonograph (1917)Billy Murray

Camden, Philadelphia, New York? The Victor Studio Conundrum, 1900–20Allan Sutton

A Billy Murray Record Label Gallery — Photos courtesy of Dick Carty,Kurt Nauck,
   Anna-Maria Manuel, and other leading collectors    (Latest Update: 6/2/2009)

Highlights from Jack Kaufman's Personal Scrapbook — Courtesy of Philip Kaufman

Billy Murray on the Radio: A Detailed Program Listing (1925–42) Anna-Maria Manuel
   (Latest Update: 4/23/2009)

The Hit Of The Week Story: A History of Durium Products — Allan Sutton

Marsh Laboratories (Autograph) Preliminary DiscographyA Collaborative Project
(Latest Update: 6/16/2009)

Paramount's Legacy: What Happened to NYRL's Inventory? — Alex van der Tuuk
     

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