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Music recorded in September 1890

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Music recorded in September 1890

In September 1890, the Flood of 1890 occurred in Prague (September 2–5, with the Charles Bridge severely damaged), Fort Salisbury (later Harare) was built as part of the expansion of the British South Africa Company (September 12, with its flag raised the following day, September 13), the Ottoman warship Ertuğrul was wrecked off the coast of Japan (September 18), while in the United States, a law banning the distribution of lottery-related materials by mail was strengthened (passed September 19), Sequoia National Park was founded (September 25), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued the "1890 Manifesto" (published September 25) recommending a halt to new polygamy practices, and Menelik II of Ethiopia was elected. In September 1890, the Italian president (1844–1913) rejected Italy's request for protectorate status, and in the cultural and sports fields, the month saw the arrival of Bohemian FC (founded September 6), playwright Dion Boucicault (1820–1890, died September 18), mystery writer Agatha Christie (1890–1976, born September 15), and designer Elsa Schiaparelli (1890–1973, born September 10).

Confirmed recordings this month: 0

Summary of information on recordings made in September 1890

While it is difficult to identify individual recording dates in primary sources for the developments surrounding recording in September 1890, this was a period in which the materials, mass production, and exhibition operations (coin-operated) that supported cylinder recording, as well as the patents and letters that underpinned them, can be traced on a monthly basis. Here, we will examine primary sources (patent bulletins and company letters) that can be dated to September 1890, and the developments in commercial exhibitions that took shape that same month, in the context of the history of sound recording.

Phonograph patents (granted in bulk on September 30, 1890)

On September 30, 1890, several patents were granted under the name of Thomas Alva Edison (1847–1931), including for the Phonograph, Phonograph-Recorder, Method of Making Phonogram-Blanks, and Phonogram-Blank, institutionalizing the "prerequisites for mass production" of machines, media, and duplication. It can be inferred that the intention behind these patents was more to solidify the foundation for the stable supply and use of recordings (blank quality, mechanical standardization) than to focus on the content of the recordings themselves.

Graphophone Patent (Alignment of Recording and Playback Heads, September 16, 1890)

US436576A, dated September 16, 1890, is an improvement to the graphophone by Joseph Daniels (date of birth and death unknown) that aimed to "permanently mount the recorder and reproducer on the same bracket, and constantly maintain their relative positions." Since "ensuring the playback stylus returns to the recorded groove" is the foundation of cylinder operation, this was an important improvement that improved handling in the field (exhibitions and business) at the time and reduced accidents (cylinder damage).

Phonograph Parlor Opens (Cleveland, September 15, 1890)

On September 15, 1890, the Ohio Phonograph Company is said to have opened a "phonograph parlor" in Cleveland, and mentions a line of listening devices along the wall where people listened through ear tubes (similar to headphones). This can be seen as a turning point in the shift from "sound recording = laboratory or office use" to "sound recording = entertainment, repeated playback, high-volume business."

Materials (cellulose, etc.) and quality control issues (September 15, 1890)

A letter dated September 15, 1890, from Thomas R. Lombard (birth and death years unknown) of North American Phonograph Company to Edison has survived, covering the topics of testing/quality control and materials such as cellulose, resin, and rubber. It states, "When the quality of the recording medium or peripheral components fluctuates, both recording and playback fluctuate," so even though the recording itself may not be flashy, this letter touches on the humble lifeline of the recording business.

Sales, maintenance and testing of regional subsidiaries (September 15, 1890)

Also dated September 15, 1890, there is a letter from James Ogilvie Clephane (years of birth and death unknown) of the Eastern Pennsylvania Phonograph Company to Alfred Ord Tate (years of birth and death unknown) that touches on sales and service, testing/quality control, and the operation of cylinder machines. This can be used as evidence of the practical work that sought to ensure that recordings were "operational" (unbreakable, aligned, and rotating) through a regional network before they were "products."

Mass production adjustment for vending and exhibition (September 23, 1890)

On September 23, 1890, Edison Manufacturing Co. sent a letter to Felix Gottschalk (date of birth and death unknown) of the Automatic Phonograph Exhibition Co., addressing the topics of "manufacturing difficulties and adjustments," "batteries," and "cylinder phonographs." Since coin-operated exhibitions meant that "batteries would wear out, meaning the sound would die," this letter serves as an example of a primary source documenting the weaknesses of the infrastructure for distributing recordings in the history of sound recordings.

The Talking Doll Business and the "Commercialization" of Sound Recording Media (September 6, 1890)

In a letter dated September 6, 1890, from Tate to Jesse H. Lippincott (1842-1894) of the North American Phonograph Company and others, the talking doll is included among the contractual, legal, and financial issues. The talking doll advanced the commercial model of "a short recording of a voice fixed on a small cylinder and sold," and further expanded the scope for recording media to be treated as a "standalone product."

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