Music recorded in October 1896
October 1896 was a time of great modernization and international relations. On October 1, F. Hoffmann-La Roche & Co. was founded in Basel, Switzerland, with the aim of industrializing pharmaceutical manufacturing and international distribution. On October 5, the narrow-gauge railway between Pärnu and Valga opened in Estonia, establishing a regional transportation and logistics infrastructure. In early October (October 5–9), Tsar Nicholas II (1868–1918) and Alexandra Feodorovna (1872–1918) visited the French Republic, marking a series of symbolic events in Franco-Russian relations. On October 18, a public film screening was held in Prague, with Adolf Oppenheimer (dates of birth and death unknown) presenting a short film. On October 25, Budapest's Museum of Applied Arts was opened, and Emperor Franz Joseph I (1830–1916) attended the ceremony. The Treaty of Addis Ababa was signed in the same month, although the date of its signing differs depending on the source and cannot be determined with any certainty.
Confirmed recordings this month: 0
Summary of information on recordings made in October 1896
October 1896 can be seen as a time when sales and distribution contracts for the disc-type gramophone were signed, influencing the balance of power in the recording industry. However, the documents I have at hand do not provide a primary list of specific cylinder recording sessions (song titles, performers, and recording dates) that can be determined by month for October 1896. Below, I will summarize the recording industry topics that have clear dates for October 1896.
Exclusive sales license from Emile Berliner (October 10, 1896)
On October 10, 1896, Emile Berliner (1851–1929) signed an agreement with Frank Seaman (1858–1939) granting him the exclusive right to sell gramophone products in the United States. This agreement is considered an important prerequisite for later legal disputes and distribution reorganizations.
National Gramophone Company founded (October 21, 1896)
Eleven days after the aforementioned contract was signed (October 21, 1896), Frank Seaman (1858–1939) and others organized the National Gramophone Company, solidifying the framework for sales agency. This led to the establishment of a sales system for discs and machines centered in New York.
Recording and pressing system in Washington/Philadelphia (confirmed as of 1896)
The document explains that in 1896, recordings were made in Washington and Philadelphia, while pressing (mass production) was handled by the Duranoid Manufacturing Company. The contract and organization in October 1896 was positioned in the context of promoting the sales aspect of this system (although the documents do not confirm that individual recordings were made in October).
