Music recorded in November 1926
November 1926 was a month marked by a series of events that would have lasting impact on various aspects of aviation, including aviation legislation, scientific awards, road administration, air sports, broadcasting, imperial structure, and musical culture. On November 1st, the Ibero-American Convention on Air Navigation was signed. Also in November, it became widely known that the previous year's Nobel Prizes in Physics would be awarded to James Franck (1882–1964) and Gustav Ludwig Hertz (1887–1975), and the Nobel Prize in Chemistry would be awarded to Richard Zsigmondy (1865–1929), bringing international recognition to the achievements of atomic physics and colloid chemistry. On November 11, the American Association of State Highway Officials adopted the US Numbered Highway System, incorporating the route system later known as US Highway 66 into this framework. On November 13, Mario de Bernardi (1893–1959) set a world record for seaplane speed during the Schneider Trophy competition. On November 15, the National Broadcasting Company began broadcasting, marking the start of the era of nationwide broadcasting networks. The Balfour Report, dated November 18, defined dominions within the British Empire as "equal in status," significantly influencing the later restructuring of the British Commonwealth system. Culturally, Richard Strauss's (1864–1949) song cycle "The Merchant's Mirror" (Der Kraemerspiegel) premiered in Berlin, marking the first public performance of a work that had long been absent from public view.
Confirmed recordings this month: 0
Summary of information regarding the November 1926 recording.
Contemporary industry records confirm that in November 1926, the recording industry saw simultaneous activity in records, phonographs, radio, in-store broadcasts, and public exhibitions. Major recording-related companies whose specific activities can be confirmed in the records for that month include Victor Talking Machine Company, Columbia Phonograph Co., Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co., JP Seeburg Piano Co., and Gennett Records of Starr Piano Co. From what can be confirmed, the activities in November included not only the addition of new releases, but also the development of sales outlets, the deployment of recording personnel and singers, the promotion of multifunction printers, and the expansion of exhibition displays.
Victor
Victor Talking Machine Company strengthened its local sales network in the Buffalo area in early November by appointing Everett M. Vestor (dates of birth and death unknown) as the factory representative. Furthermore, contemporary news reports dated November 30 indicated that Victor Orthophonic machines were selling well in the area, and that there was strong demand for Victor combination machines and records, suggesting that the company was growing in both machine and record sales in preparation for the year-end shopping season.
- https://elibrary.arcade-museum.com/classic/Music-Trade-Review/1926-83-20/22
- https://elibrary.arcade-museum.com/classic/Music-Trade-Review/1926-83-23/14
Columbia
Regarding Columbia Phonograph Co., several specific activities can be confirmed from November documents. In Buffalo, a large window display was set up to coincide with the opening of the new Columbia division, and the Columbia Music Shop broadcast afternoon programs from inside the store via the WEBR radio station. Also, Frank B. Walker (1888–1963) left Atlanta to record Southern artists, confirming the continuation of regional recordings. Furthermore, it was reported that Vienna-born singer Eva Leoni (dates of birth and death unknown) made her first recording for the company in late November, indicating that the company was simultaneously pursuing promotion, broadcasting, regional recordings, and new artist recordings in that month.
- https://elibrary.arcade-museum.com/classic/Music-Trade-Review/1926-83-20/22
- https://elibrary.arcade-museum.com/Music-Trade-Review/1926-83-22/7
Brunswick
In its November 13th advertisement, Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co. prominently featured the "Panatrope & Radiola 148-C," an 8-tube radio receiver, strongly promoting the high-end all-in-one device market that combines music playback and radio reception. The same issue also reported that blues singer Peggy English (dates of birth and death unknown) had signed a contract to record 24 songs for Vocalion over the next year. Furthermore, a Buffalo report dated November 30th indicated a change in the head of Brunswick's sales office in the city, confirming that the company was making moves in both product promotion and personnel allocation during November.
- https://elibrary.arcade-museum.com/classic/Music-Trade-Review/1926-83-20/6
- https://elibrary.arcade-museum.com/classic/Music-Trade-Review/1926-83-20/46
- https://elibrary.arcade-museum.com/classic/Music-Trade-Review/1926-83-23/14
Seeberg
The November 27th issue of the magazine details the great success of the J.P. Seeburg Piano Co.'s exhibit at the Philadelphia 150th Anniversary Exposition. The exhibit showcased a full line of products including player pianos, automatic pipe organs, and orchestrions, and visitors showed great interest not only in the performances themselves but also in the explanations of the mechanical principles. This was a different development from record sales, but it is an important example showing that the musical instrument market in November 1926 was expanding not only through the sale of recordings but also through large-scale public exhibitions of automatic musical instruments.
Jennette
According to a Cleveland news report dated November 30th, Starr Piano Co.'s Gennett Records has completed renovations to its first-floor sales area. The Gennett Records sales area and listening facilities have been reorganized at the back of the store, along with a new Starr phonograph. Rather than simply displaying products, the flow of machines, records, and rolls has been reorganized throughout the entire sales area after the renovation, indicating that the company was restructuring its store layout in preparation for the year-end sales season.
