Music recorded in May 1899
On May 1, 1899, the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty acquired part of Wicken Fen, marking a concrete move to support nature conservation through land acquisition. On May 18, the First Hague Peace Conference opened in The Hague, where discussions began on the arbitration of international disputes and the limitation of arms. At the end of May, Alfred Milner (1854–1925) of the British Empire and Paul Kruger (1825–1904) of the South African Republic met at the Bloemfontein Conference, mediated by Marthinus Theunis Steyn (1857–1916) of the Orange Free State, but no agreement was reached. On May 29, the Audiencia Territorial de Manila was re-established in the Philippine Islands under United States of America administration by General Order No. 20. In the same month, Victoria (1819–1901) laid the foundation stone for a new museum in the United Kingdom, officially renaming the museum the Victoria and Albert Museum. On 24 May, Jules Massenet's (1842–1912) opera Cendrillon premiered at the Opéra-Comique.
Confirmed recordings this month: 0
Summary of information on recordings made in May 1899
In May 1899, we can see both a patent for an improved playback mechanism (improved sound quality and stability through changes in materials) and an advertisement for a large cylinder system in an industry magazine. Furthermore, the address change for sales, catalog distribution, and other external contact points is clearly stated as "after May 1st," providing a clue for tracking the company's activities on a monthly basis.
Graphophone Sound Reproducer Patent (May 2, 1899)
On May 2, 1899, U.S. Patent No. 624,059 was issued to the American Graphophone Company for an improvement to the "Graphophone Sound Reproducer." Inventor Thomas Hood Macdonald (1859–1911) aimed to improve the uniformity and quality of the reproduced sound by using aluminum for the head.
National Phonograph Change of Address Notice (after May 1, 1899)
In an advertisement in the February 1899 issue of The Phonoscope, the National Phonograph Company announces its new address "as of May 1, 1899." This serves as primary information on sales outlets (locations) that can be tracked month by month.
Announcement of the launch of Polyphon's large cylinder machine (May 1, 1899)
The May 1899 issue of The Phonoscope advertises that The Polyphone Co. will be releasing the "Polyphone Grand" on May 1, 1899, emphasizing the high volume reproduction achieved by its 5-inch diameter cylinder and double diaphragm. We can see that the market appeal of large cylinder models is reflected in trade magazine advertisements from the same period.
- https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Phonoscope/1899/Phonoscope-1899-05.pdf
- https://blogs.loc.gov/now-see-hear/2014/12/gargantuan-graphophone-records/
