Music recorded in July 1889
In July 1889, the US financial newspaper The Wall Street Journal was launched on July 8th. Detailed records remain of the editorial structure, format, and price of the first issue. Also on July 8th, John L. Sullivan (1858–1918) defeated Jake Kilrain (1859–1937) in a historic 75-round battle, marking the end of the unarmed era of boxing and marking his place in sports history. In the UK, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery opened on July 15th, marking a milestone in cultural history as the world's first museum dedicated to portraiture. In Central Asia, a major earthquake (1889 Chilik earthquake, M7.9–8.0) occurred on July 11th, causing damage in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and western China. On July 28th, the 1889 Kumamoto earthquake (M6.3) occurred in Japan, causing damage such as the collapse of the stone walls of Kumamoto Castle. Meanwhile, in France, the poet Jean Cocteau (1889–1963) was born on July 5th, and later became a symbol of avant-garde art.
Confirmed recordings this month: 241
1 day (10 songs)
| Title | Artist |
|---|---|
| Northern Lights March | H. Giesemann |
| Patrol Comic | H. Giesemann |
| Jeunesse Doreé | H. Giesemann |
| Slightly On The Mash | H. Giesemann |
| Jubilee Schottisch | H. Giesemann |
| Mendelssohn Wedding March | H. Giesemann |
| The Lambs Polka | H. Giesemann |
| Funiculi Funicula Polka | H. Giesemann |
| Schweizer Hans Rendevous | H. Giesemann |
| San Tiago Waltz | H. Giesemann |
[Events on July 1, 1889]
・The 13th Wimbledon Championships begins
The 13th Wimbledon Championships began in London on July 1, 1889. In the men's singles, William Renshaw (1861–1904) defeated his brother Ernest Renshaw (1861–1899) to win his seventh title.
2 days (2 songs)
| Title | Artist |
|---|---|
| Miss Lankow Erda's Warning On Wotan Rheingold | H. Giesemann |
| Es Muss Was Wunderbarres Sein by Liszt | H. Giesemann |
[Events on July 2, 1889]
・Thaxton Train Wreck Occurrence
The Thaxton Train Wreck occurred near Thaxton, Virginia, USA, when a train derailed and burst into flames. At least 18 people were killed and 21 injured after the train derailed and burst into flames due to a roadbed collapse caused by heavy rain.
・F. Charles Adler (1889–1959)
Conductor F. Charles Adler (1889–1959) was born in London, England. He later became known for his recordings of works by Mahler and Bruckner, and left his mark on the orchestral world in the first half of the 20th century.
3rd (9 songs)
| Title | Artist |
|---|---|
| My Dream Of Love | John Mitthauer |
| Celina Polka | John Mitthauer |
| Emily | John Mitthauer |
| Thine Eyes So Blue | John Mitthauer |
| Annie Laurie | John Mitthauer |
| Venice Carnival | John Mitthauer |
| Surf Polka | John Mitthauer |
| Free As A Bird | John Mitthauer |
| Irish Medley | John Mitthauer |
[Events on July 3, 1889]
・Victor Kandinsky (1849–1889)
Imperial Russian psychiatrist Victor Kandinsky (1849–1889) passed away in St. Petersburg. He is known as the researcher who proposed the concept of “pseudo-hallucination” and laid the foundations for psychopathology.
5th (12 songs)
| Title | Artist |
|---|---|
| Lost Chord | John Mitthauer |
| Washington Guard Polka | John Mitthauer |
| Killarney | John Mitthauer |
| Amusement Polka | John Mitthauer |
| Young America [Polka] | John Mitthauer |
| Irish Song | John Mitthauer |
| God Save The Queen | John Mitthauer |
| German Medley | John Mitthauer |
| Brilliant Polka | John Mitthauer |
| Last Rose of Summer | John Mitthauer |
| Culver Polka | John Mitthauer |
| Blue Bells Of Scotland | John Mitthauer |
[Events of July 5, 1889]
・Jean Cocteau (1889–1963)
The French poet, playwright, and filmmaker Jean Cocteau (1889-1963) was born in Maisons-Laffitte on July 5, 1889. He later combined symbolism with avant-garde art, and became a representative figure of 20th century French culture with films such as "Beauty and the Beast (La Belle et la Bête)."
6th (9 songs)
| Title | Artist |
|---|---|
| Dorscht March | A. Davis J. Schmitt |
| Melodie In F | A. Davis J. Schmitt |
| Violettes Waltz | A. Davis J. Schmitt |
| Fatinitza Sel. | A. Davis J. Schmitt |
| Cecchino Song. | A. Davis J. Schmitt |
| Dorscht March | A. Davis J. Schmitt |
| Carmen | A. Davis J. Schmitt |
| Tid Bits Medley | A. Davis J. Schmitt |
| Patrol Comic | A. Davis J. Schmitt |
[Events of July 6, 1889]
・Cleveland Street scandal
The Metropolitan Police raided a male brothel, exposing upper-class involvement (the Cleveland Street scandal), which exposed the sexual hypocrisy of Victorian society and remains one of the biggest scandals in British history.
8th (11 songs)
| Title | Artist |
|---|---|
| Hungarian March | H. Giesemann |
| Slightly On The Mash | H. Giesemann |
| Visions of Love Waltz | H. Giesemann |
| Frolic Galop | H. Giesemann |
| Fedora Waltz | H. Giesemann |
| Hunters Greeting | H. Giesemann |
| Selection Marquis | H. Giesemann |
| Selection Marquis Continued | H. Giesemann |
| Jubilee Schottisch | H. Giesemann |
| Coppelia Mazurka | H. Giesemann |
| Hungarian Polka | H. Giesemann |
[Events of July 8, 1889]
・The Wall Street Journal launched
The Wall Street Journal, a financial newspaper, was launched in New York, USA.
The first issue was four pages long and priced at 2 cents, and was edited by founders Charles Henry Dow (1851–1902) and Edward D. Jones (1856–1920).
・Historic bare-knuckle boxing match
On July 8, 1889, the Sullivan–Kilrain fight for the world heavyweight bare-knuckle boxing championship took place near Richburg, Mississippi, USA. John L. Sullivan (1858–1918) defeated Jake Kilrain (1859–1937) in 75 rounds, resulting in a historic bout that marked the end of the bare-knuckle boxing era.
9th (7 songs)
| Title | Artist |
|---|---|
| Low Back'd Car | J. Mittauer |
| Bonnie Mary | J. Mittauer |
| Polka Brilliante | J. Mittauer |
| Yankee Doodle Var. | J. Mittauer |
| Cradle Song | J. Mittauer |
| Celina Polka | J. Mittauer |
| Within a Mile of Edinboro | J. Mittauer |
[Events of July 9, 1889]
・Safety Bicycle
The Overman Wheel Company of the United States developed and patented the Overman Wheel Company Safety Bicycle. This was the first practical "safety bicycle" with equal-diameter wheels, chain drive, and pneumatic tires, and is considered the prototype of the modern bicycle.
10th (9 songs)
| Title | Artist |
|---|---|
| Wedding March Mendellsohn | Mr. G. Büchner |
| The Nightingale In Italy | Mr. G. Büchner |
| Grazioso Gavotte | Mr. G. Büchner |
| Sweet Angel Sleep Well | Mr. G. Büchner |
| Comrades march | Mr. G. Büchner |
| German Song With Var. | Mr. G. Büchner |
| Aesculop Polka | Mr. G. Büchner |
| Paris Nouveau Waltz | Mr. G. Büchner |
| Dance of the 16th Century | Mr. G. Büchner |
[Events of July 10, 1889]
・Noble Sissle (1889–1975)
Jazz composer Noble Sissle (1889–1975) was born in Indianapolis, USA. He later created the musical Shuffle Along (1921) with pianist Eubie Blake (1887–1983), becoming a pioneer in bringing black music to Broadway.
11th (12 songs)
| Title | Artist |
|---|---|
| Athalia March Mendelssohn | Mr. G. Buechner |
| L'Ingenue Gavotte | Mr. G. Buechner |
| Moszkowski Serenade | Mr. G. Buechner |
| Alpine Violets Mazurka | Mr. G. Buechner |
| Ye Pretty Birds Var. | Mr. G. Buechner |
| Happy Hours Schottisch | Mr. G. Buechner |
| Waltz Pearl Of Pekin | Mr. G. Buechner |
| Nadjy Selection | Mr. G. Buechner |
| Gypsy Rondo Haydn | Mr. G. Buechner |
| Lili Polka | Mr. G. Buechner |
| Jubilee Schottisch | Mr. G. Buechner |
| Santiago Waltz | Mr. G. Buechner |
[Events of July 11, 1889]
・Major earthquake in Central Asia
A major earthquake (the 1889 Chilik earthquake) occurred in Central Asia at 15:14 local time, with an estimated magnitude of 7.9–8.0 and a maximum seismic intensity of X (equivalent to Rossi-Forel in MSK). It caused damage in what are now Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and China, and at least 92 deaths are reported.
・The Birth of Tijuana
The Mexican border city of Tijuana celebrated the founding of the city on July 11, 1889 (Founding of Tijuana / Fundación de Tijuana). Official documents, local government websites, and encyclopedias list July 11, 1889, as the city's founding date.
12th (10 songs)
| Title | Artist |
|---|---|
| I'm So Lonely | J. Mittauer |
| Hattie Polka | J. Mittauer |
| Irish Song | J. Mittauer |
| Emily Polka | J. Mittauer |
| Dreaming | J. Mittauer |
| Lizzie Polka | J. Mittauer |
| Marching Through Georgia | J. Mittauer |
| For Ever & For Ever | J. Mittauer |
| Massa's In De Cold Ground | J. Mittauer |
| Sweet Bye & Bye | J. Mittauer |
[Events of July 12, 1889]
・"American Concert" held in Paris
The "American Concert" was held in Paris, featuring American composer Edward MacDowell (1860–1908) and the Opéra-Comique Orchestra. This performance occupies an important place in the history of international musical exchange, as it was one of the earliest examples of American music being fully introduced to Europe.
13th (8 songs)
| Title | Artist |
|---|---|
| Northern Lights March | H. Giesemann |
| Clover Selection | H. Giesemann |
| Auf Wiedersehn Waltz | H. Giesemann |
| Love Letters Polka | H. Giesemann |
| Razzle Dazzle | H. Giesemann |
| Jubilee Songs | H. Giesemann |
| Swinging Waltz | H. Giesemann |
| Schottisch Pete | H. Giesemann |
[Events of July 13, 1889]
・Louise Mountbatten (1889–1965)
Louise Mountbatten (1889–1965), future Queen of Sweden, was born at Schloss Heiligenberg in Jugenheim, Germany. She later married Gustaf VI Adolf (1882–1973) and reigned as Queen of Sweden consort.
15th (7 songs)
| Title | Artist |
|---|---|
| Lady Betty Old English Dance | H. Giesemann |
| Sinnen Und Minnen Waltz | H. Giesemann |
| The Lambs Polka | H. Giesemann |
| Viola Gavotte | H. Giesemann |
| Eda Polka | H. Giesemann |
| Prince Methusalen Sel. | H. Giesemann |
| Comic Polka | H. Giesemann |
[Events of July 15, 1889]
・The Ertugrul sets sail
The Ottoman frigate Ertuğrul departed Istanbul on a goodwill voyage to Japan. Official and research documents from both Japan and Turkey confirm that the ship departed in mid-July 1889, while documents from Wakayama Prefecture state that it departed on July 15th.
16th (12 songs)
| Title | Artist |
|---|---|
| Les Rameaux | J. Mittauer |
| Inflammatus | J. Mittauer |
| Aria “Trovatore” | J. Mittauer |
| Forget Me Not | J. Mittauer |
| Then You'll Remember Me | J. Mittauer |
| When The Swallows etc. | J. Mittauer |
| Arbuckle Polka | J. Mittauer |
| No Crown Without The Cross | J. Mittauer |
| Favorite, The | J. Mittauer |
| Leviathan Polka | J. Mittauer |
| Irish Song | J. Mittauer |
| The Low Back'd Car | J. Mittauer |
[Events of July 16, 1889]
・Lauri Pohjanpää (1889–1962)
Lauri Pohjanpää (1889–1962) was born in Helsinki, Finland. He was a poet and clergyman, and many of his texts were used as lyrics for songs and choruses.
17th? (12 songs)
| Title | Artist |
|---|---|
| Bolero. Sicilian vespers. | G. Buechner |
| Aria Dinorah | G. Buechner |
| Rigoletto Quartet | G. Buechner |
| Aria Traviata I | G. Buechner |
| Mazurka | G. Buechner |
| Heimweh | G. Buechner |
| Aria Traviata II | G. Buechner |
| Barcarolle Teerschak | G. Buechner |
| Spanish Dances Moskowski | G. Buechner |
| Aria Hugenotten | G. Buechner |
| The Power Of Love. Balfe | G. Buechner |
| Aria Ernani | G. Buechner |
[Events of July 17, 1889]
・Erle Stanley Gardner (1889–1970)
Mystery writer Erle Stanley Gardner (1889–1970) was born in Malden, Massachusetts, USA. He is known as the author of the Perry Mason series of courtroom detective novels, and had a major influence on the history of 20th-century mystery novels.
18th? (11 songs)
| Title | Artist |
|---|---|
| Noblesse Caprice | HG. |
| 1 Heart 1 Soul Mazourka | HG. |
| Dancing In The Barn | HG. |
| Selection Nadjy | HG. |
| Hornpipe Polka | HG. |
| Waltz You & You | HG. |
| Prince Methusalen Sel. | HG. |
| Fleurette Intermezzo | HG. |
| Schweizer Hans Rendevous | HG. |
| Said Pasha Sel. | HG. |
| Dash Galop | HG. |
[Events of July 18, 1889]
・The Ferguson meteorite falls
It is recorded in the U.S. meteorite catalog as the date of the fall of the Ferguson meteorite near Ferguson, North Carolina, USA, a relatively rare meteorite fall observed in the southern United States at the end of the 19th century.
19th (8 songs)
| Title | Artist |
|---|---|
| Aria Trovatore | J. Mittauer |
| Fantasia Favorite | J. Mittauer |
| Killarney | J. Mittauer |
| Concert Polka | J. Mittauer |
| Bonnie Sweet Bessie | J. Mittauer |
| Celina Polka | J. Mittauer |
| Home Sweet Home | J. Mittauer |
| Culver Polka | J. Mittauer |
[Events of July 19, 1889]
・Jack the Ripper threatening letter
On July 19, newspapers in Canada, New Zealand, and Sandusky, Ohio, reported on a new threatening letter signed by "Jack the Ripper" that had arrived in London, demonstrating that nearly a year after the 1888 serial killings, fear was still fodder for international news.
20th (10 songs)
| Title | Artist |
|---|---|
| Hungarian Polka | HG. |
| Banq Bouquet Polka | HG. |
| Seelenliebe Waltz | HG. |
| Santiago Waltz | HG. |
| Slightly On The Mash | HG. |
| Religo | HG. |
| Selection Clover | HG. |
| Eshana Waltz | HG. |
| Blue Bird Mazurka | HG. |
| L'esprit Francaise Polka | HG. |
[Events of July 20, 1889]
・Lynching of Ella Watson and James Averell, Sweetwater River
In the Wyoming Territory, a female settler named Ellen Liddy “Ella” Watson (1860–1889) and her roommate James Averell (1851–1889) were lynched by a large rancher on charges of cattle stealing (Lynching of Ella Watson and James Averell, Sweetwater River, 20 July 1889), which sparked the Johnson County War.
22nd (14 songs)
| Title | Artist |
|---|---|
| Dorscht March | Emil Scheck |
| Aria Sonnambula Var. | Emil Scheck |
| Loin Du Ball | Emil Scheck |
| Fantasy Rigoletto | Emil Scheck |
| Slightly On The Mash | Emil Scheck |
| Air Varie II | Emil Scheck |
| Polonaise | Emil Scheck |
| Dancing In The Barn | Emil Scheck |
| Must We Meet & Var. | Emil Scheck |
| Fantasy Regoletto | Emil Scheck |
| Eda Polka | Emil Scheck |
| Hungarian Polka | Emil Scheck |
| Pearl Of Pekin Waltz | Emil Scheck |
| New Paris Waltz | Emil Scheck |
[Events of July 22, 1889]
・James Whale (1889–1957)
James Whale (1889–1957) was born in Dudley, Worcestershire, England, and later became a film director, directing films such as Frankenstein (1931) and The Invisible Man (1933). This day marks the birth of a man whose Gothic imagery would change the face of 20th-century cinema.
23rd (12 songs)
| Title | Artist |
|---|---|
| Polka Brilliant | J. Mittauer |
| Fantasy | J. Mittauer |
| Tyrolean Air | J. Mittauer |
| Washington Polka | J. Mittauer |
| Then You'll Remember Me | J. Mittauer |
| Venice Carnival | J. Mittauer |
| Amusement Polka | J. Mittauer |
| Fantasie Un Ballo, etc. | J. Mittauer |
| Last Rose of Summer | J. Mittauer |
| Hattie Polka | J. Mittauer |
| American Airways | J. Mittauer |
| Dreaming | J. Mittauer |
[Events of July 23, 1889]
・The origins of hot dogs
Local Brooklyn historians remember this day as the day that German food cart owner Charles Feltman (1841–1910) first sold "hot dogs" on Coney Island, marking a turning point in the transition from an immigrant snack to the tourist industry. However, some say the business actually began in the 1860s, and the date is based on later recollections.
24th (10+8 songs)
| Title | Artist |
|---|---|
| Funiculi Funicula | E. Scheck |
| Aria Regoletto var. | E. Scheck |
| Dreams Of Childhood Waltz | E. Scheck |
| Cavatina Raff | E. Scheck |
| Air With Variations | E. Scheck |
| Jubilee Schottisch | E. Scheck |
| Hungarian Polka | E. Scheck |
| Aria Sonnambula | E. Scheck |
| Loin Du Bal | E. Scheck |
| Vienna Galop | E. Scheck |
*In the original source, "First Book Of Phonograph Records," the eight songs listed in the table below were added after July 26th (before July 29th) as "July 24th." Therefore, on this site, the recordings for the 24th are listed in two separate tables.
| Title | Artist |
|---|---|
| Amazon March | HG. |
| Fedora Waltz | HG. |
| Dianelli Polka | HG. |
| Sweet Dream Waltz | HG. |
| Clover. Selection, No. 1 | HG. |
| Clover. Selection, No. 2 | HG. |
| Kentucky Galopade | HG. |
| Pomone Waltz | HG. |
[Events of July 24, 1889]
・Agnes Meyer Driscoll (1889–1971)
Agnes Meyer Driscoll (1889–1971) was born on this day in the United States, and later worked as a civilian codebreaker for the U.S. Navy, contributing to the deciphering of the Japanese Navy code "D." Despite being a woman, she was at the center of naval codebreaking.
25th (1 song)
| Title | Artist |
|---|---|
| Amazon March | HG. |
[Events of July 25, 1889]
・Dorothy Jane Adele Helmrich (1889–1984)
Australian singer Dorothy Jane Adele Helmrich (1889–1984) was born on this day. Born in Woollahra, Sydney, she studied at the Royal College of Music in London and other institutions, and was known as a performer of lieder (songs). During World War II, she founded the New South Wales Arts Council (later the predecessor to the Arts Council of Australia), and is considered a pioneer of 20th-century Australian cultural policy for creating a system for touring music and theater productions to rural areas and schools.
26th (13 songs)
| Title | Artist |
|---|---|
| Golden Love | J. Mittauer |
| Life's Story | J. Mittauer |
| Sea Flower Polka | J. Mittauer |
| Some Day | J. Mittauer |
| Low Back'd Car | J. Mittauer |
| Surf Polka | J. Mittauer |
| Leave Me Not Dear heart | J. Mittauer |
| Emily Polka | J. Mittauer |
| Fantasy | J. Mittauer |
| America | J. Mittauer |
| Irish Medley | J. Mittauer |
| Annie Laurie | J. Mittauer |
| Melodie In F | J. Mittauer |
[Events of July 26, 1889]
・Milly's Bloody Trunk Mystery
On this day, the Paris bailiff Toussaint-Augustin Gouffé (1843–1889) went missing, a case that was later reported throughout Europe as the "Millery Blood Trunk Affair." The Paris Police Department launched an investigation on the same day, and the case became one of France's biggest criminal scandals over the following month.
29th (13 songs)
| Title | Artist |
|---|---|
| March “Vice Admiral” | E. Scheck MF. |
| Loin Du Bal | E. Scheck MF. |
| Solo Sonnambula | E. Scheck MF. |
| Polka “Eda” | E. Scheck MF. |
| Galop “Vinea” | E. Scheck MF. |
| Air With Variations | E. Scheck MF. |
| Schottisch “Dancing In The Barn” | E. Scheck MF. |
| Polka “Delightful Time” | MF. |
| Rigoletto | E. Scheck MF. |
| Waltz “Dreams Of Childhood” | E. Scheck MF. |
| Polonaise | E. Scheck MF. |
| Theme with Variat. I | E. Scheck MF. |
| Theme with Variat. I | E. Scheck MF. |
[Events of July 29, 1889]
・Kumamoto earthquake occurs
The Kumamoto earthquake, which occurred at 11:40 pm on July 28th (Japan time), was reported in Europe and the US as occurring on the 29th, and it was reported that 20 people were killed when the stone walls of Kumamoto Castle collapsed and houses collapsed. Earthquake observation stations overseas also recorded the tremors, and this led to Japan's modern earthquake observation techniques drawing international attention.
30th (5 songs)
| Title | Artist |
|---|---|
| Anniversary March | MF. |
| Galop “Shooting Star” | MF. |
| Waltz “Sweet Dreams” | MF. |
| Mazurka “Fate Morgana” | MF. |
| Polka “Marie” | MF. |
[Events of July 30, 1889]
・Dorothy Violet Wellesley (1889–1956)
Dorothy Violet Wellesley (1889–1956), a member of the aristocratic Wellesley family, was a poet and editor who later became the 7th Duchess of Wellington. This year marks the birthday of this female intellectual who was involved with TS Eliot (1888–1965) and other poets in the 20th century British poetry world.
31st (6 songs)
| Title | Artist |
|---|---|
| Comic Polka | HG. |
| Boquet [Polka] | HG. |
| Ticklish Wailer [Polka] | HG. |
| L'Esprit Francaise [Polka] | HG. |
| Gambrinus [Polka] | HG. |
| The Lambs [Polka] | HG. |
[Events that occurred on July 31, 1889]
・Horatius Bonar (1808–1889)
Horatius Bonar (1808–1889), a hymn writer for the Free Church of Scotland, died on this day in Edinburgh, and the Church and Religious Press reported the death of a “Scottish Evangelical poet.” This marked the end of one of the great sources of 19th-century English hymns.
Summary of information on recordings made in July 1889
The events surrounding recording in July 1889 are considered to be a period in which commercial performances, test recordings, and wax cylinder production progressed in parallel across America and Europe, leading to the later mass production system. Here, we have selected recording practices, technology, and corporate trends for which the July date can be directly confirmed from primary sources, as well as events that can be positioned as "mid-1889," within the context of recording history.
North American Phonograph Company's supply price list and cylinder supply system
The North American Phonograph Company created a supply price list dated July 1, 1889, showing standard prices for batteries, wax cylinders, pre-recorded cylinders, etc. This document established an official supply system for "sound recording media and equipment" to a network of distributors across the United States, indicating that the commercial distribution of music cylinders was in full swing.
Experiments with wax cylinder materials at the Silver Lake plant
On July 2-3, 1889, Jonas Walter Aylsworth (1868-1916) tested wax compositions for use in dipping cylinders, examining a mixture of paraffin whose melting point had been raised with sodium stearate, and a mixture of 100% regular wax and 30% Serasin wax. These experiments were aimed at developing thin-shelled wax cylinders that could withstand transportation and special waxes for music recording, and laid the foundation for the later mass production of high-quality music cylinders.
Mass production and inventory of thread-lined wax cylinders for South America
According to the same technical memo, Ailsworth manufactured 150 thread-lined wax cylinders for South America on July 7-8, and then reported daily production figures of "526/400/502/600/542 cylinders" by the 11th, indicating that the factory was already mass-producing hundreds of cylinders. The report also states that "Silver Lake has approximately 5,000 pounds of wax in stock, exceeding demand," suggesting that the supply of recording media for the global market was being prepared well ahead of schedule as early as July.
Special musical wax and 30 musical cylinders for Schultz-Berge
The records for July 9-10 report that Aylesworth mixed a special wax labeled "CP special wax for musical records" for Schultz Berge (dates of birth and death unknown) and used it to mold 30 cylinders for music recording. This indicates that the material design for a "music playback only" cylinder, which differed from general-purpose dictation cylinders, had already progressed from the testing stage to the level of practical production by July 1889.
Messages to Japan, China, and Korea/Music Cylinder Exports
Everett Frazar (dates of birth and death unknown) later wrote in a letter that he recalled that "one evening in late July 1889, in my private room at the Edison Laboratory, I recorded a message on my phonograph for a Japanese business partner," and that this cylinder was then sent to Japan. Around the same time, he was planning to give the phonograph itself and one or two dozen music cylinders as gifts to the Emperor of Japan, Li Hung Chang (1823–1901), the King of Korea, and others, and the July recordings were positioned as part of a "sonic diplomatic gift" to East Asia.
Public demonstration by Alabama Phonograph Company
The Alabama Phonograph Company was established as a sub-company of the North American Phonograph Company, and in July 1889, a public demonstration of the phonograph was held at the Opera House Hotel in Birmingham, where, as reported in newspapers at the time, "recordings of songs, poetry, and conversation were played before an audience." The multiple cylinders used here are thought to have been commercial or in-house recordings, indicating that the practice of presenting recordings as paid entertainment had already begun to take root in the South by July.
Early stage recording of "Bohemian Girl"
G.A. Beach (dates of birth and death unknown), head of the Iowa Phonograph Company, obtained permission to record a performance of the opera "The Bohemian Girl" by the Bostonian Troupe at Peavey Grand in Sioux City in July 1889, and attempted to make a phonograph recording onstage. Unsatisfied with the low volume of the results, he reportedly invited the troupe back to his office to make an additional recording, marking this as one of the early experiments in recording live music performances in local cities.
Emil Berliner hard rubber disc test press
Emile Berliner (1851–1929) commissioned a hard rubber test press at the India Rubber Comb Company in New York in July 1889, searching for a disc recording medium to replace the existing celluloid disc. Although these early presses were imperfect, they led to the later improved hard rubber disc, indicating that experimentation with materials for "disc records" had already begun in mid-1889, when cylinders were still the mainstream.
Edison's "talking doll" patent and cylinder recordings for children
Thomas Alva Edison (1847–1931) applied for a patent for a cylinder-type "talking doll" in July 1889, taking over from an earlier patent held by William White Jacques (date of birth and death unknown). A prototype doll loaded with recordings of French language is said to have been exhibited at the 1889 Paris World's Fair, and this later evolved into a series of cylinders containing around 12 titles of nursery rhymes and other songs recorded by young women in a factory. The technological starting point for this can be seen as this July patent application (although the date of the recordings exhibited at the World's Fair has not been specified down to the month).
Additional information about Jonas Walter Aylesworth
Ailsworth was a chemist from Indiana who, from 1887, worked on wax cylinders and, later, plastic materials at Edison's West Orange Laboratory. He passed away in 1916. The wax cylinder experiments seen in the July technical notes are considered to be the early stages of research into acoustic materials, which would later lead to the development of "condenserite" for Edison's diamond discs.
