Music recorded in July 1919
July 1919 was a month of simultaneous progress in the reorganization of the post-World War I order and new transportation and social issues. On July 1, Hounslow Heath Aerodrome opened, and from July 2–6 and 9–13, the airship R34 completed round-trip transatlantic flights. On July 10, the Treaty of Versailles was sent to the United States Senate, and on July 17, Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim (1867–1951) ratified the Finnish Constitution Act. On July 19th, Peace Day was observed in Britain, but the Washington race riot of 1919 began on the same day, followed by the Chicago race riot of 1919 on July 27th. At the end of the month, on July 31st, the German Constitution was adopted, solidifying the new political order of postwar Europe.
Confirmed recordings this month: 0
Summary of information regarding the July 1919 recording.
The July 1919 recording market showed a shift in focus from wartime propaganda to summer leisure, home entertainment, installment payments, interior decoration, and dance demand. The Columbia Graphophone Company continued with patriotic designs linked to Independence Day, while the Victor Talking Machine Company promoted new July releases and home dancing. Thomas A. Edison, Inc. marketed "The New Edison" as a home instrument, and The Aeolian Company's Aeolian-Vocalion appealed to new instrumental features and summer indoor entertainment. Furthermore, advertisements from Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company and Sonora Phonograph Co. confirm that competition at the point of sale, including in-store demonstrations, comparative listening, and outdoor billboards, was also active in July.
Columbia
The Columbia Graphophone Company, in its July 1919 supplemental catalog, prominently featured a post-war patriotic design in red, white, and blue, continuing its sales appeal linked to Independence Day. Mid-July advertisements in local newspapers also announced the arrival of new Columbia records and their weekend sales, confirming the supply of new releases and the turnover of sales in stores throughout the month.
- https://blogs.loc.gov/now-see-hear/2018/11/how-to-sell-war-and-peace/
- https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn84020558/1919-07-22/ed-1/?sp=3&st=text
- https://newspapers.library.in.gov/?a=d&d=DT19190717.1.11
Victor
In July 1919, the Victor Talking Machine Company prominently featured its "July New Releases" in newspaper advertisements, distributing booklets in stores to encourage sales of new products. The advertisements that same month presented the Victrola as a home instrument that could be "danced to anytime," clearly linking summer leisure with home dancing.
- https://newspapers.library.in.gov/?a=d&d=RPD19190701.1.3
- https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19190704.1.5
- https://trinitywatkinson.libraryhost.com/repositories/3/archival_objects/4121
Edison
In a July 1919 advertisement in a local newspaper, Thomas A. Edison, Inc. marketed "The New Edison" as "Phonograph with a Soul," linking its introduction to homes to installment payments or the purchase of records at a certain amount. Another advertisement in July also highlighted its ability to play records from other labels, demonstrating that they were emphasizing both the sound quality and practicality of the machine itself.
- https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn84022835/1919-07-03/ed-1/?st=text
- https://newspapers.library.in.gov/?a=d&d=INN19190705-01.1.13
- https://newspapers.library.in.gov/?a=d&d=TSYLWWJ19190717.1.5
Aeolian Vocalion
The Aeolian Company's Aeolian-Vocalion was advertised in July 1919 as "a new instrument unlike any other phonograph." Another July advertisement emphasized the new Vocalion record, summer evening music, and its affordable price range, indicating that it was being promoted both as a musical instrument and as a home entertainment product.
- https://newspapers.library.in.gov/?a=d&d=RPD19190704.1.4
- https://newspapers.library.in.gov/?a=d&d=RPD19190711.1.4
- https://www.nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=suna19190720-01.1.3
Brunswick
In July 1919, Brunswick, part of the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, strongly promoted its "all-in-one" phonographs, highlighting their superiority over other record playback methods and structural advantages. Local newspapers in early July repeatedly urged people to listen to and compare the products themselves, indicating that in-store demonstrations and comparative listening were the primary sales methods.
- https://newspapers.library.in.gov/?a=d&d=DT19190706.1.4
- https://newspapers.library.in.gov/?a=d&d=DT19190710.1.12
Sonora
In July 1919, Sonora Phonograph Co. prominently featured its latest model in a local newspaper advertisement, and was actively promoting the product in stores. An illustration in an industry magazine from the same month also shows Sonora's large outdoor billboard, indicating that they combined newspaper advertising with street advertising for promotional purposes.
- https://newspapers.library.in.gov/?a=d&d=TSYLWWJ19190710.1.10
- https://phonographia.com/PhonoSign/Phonosign.htm
