Music recorded in October 1899
On October 3, 1899, an arbitration award was issued regarding the border between the Colony of British Guiana and the United States of Venezuela, making international arbitration a viable method for resolving territorial disputes. In southern Africa, the South African War began on October 11, 1899, prolonging the conflict over the imperialist order. In the Philippines, operations were carried out in Cavite Province from October 7 to October 13, 1899, as part of the Philippine–American War. In Antarctica, Nicolai Hanson (1870–1899) of the Southern Cross Expedition died on October 14, 1899, marking one of the earliest recorded burials on the Antarctic continent. In Britain, Rudyard Kipling's (1865–1936) poem "The Absent-Minded Beggar" was linked to a fundraising campaign in October 1899, marking the intersection of war and popular culture. Furthermore, in Denmark, Valdemar Poulsen's (1869–1942) Telegraphone was featured in a newspaper article on October 21, 1899, providing contemporary coverage of magnetic recording.
Confirmed recordings this month: 0
Summary of information on recordings made in October 1899
Three items can be identified for the month of October 1899: primary sources for patents on reproduction technology, contemporary reports on magnetic recording, and the circulation of iconic images of the record industry. The following is limited to items for which the date or month can be identified in primary or academic sources.
Edison's reproduction device patent application
Thomas A. Edison (1847–1931) was granted U.S. Patent No. 648,935 (Title: Apparatus for Duplicating Phonograph Records, Patent Date: May 8, 1900), filed on October 28, 1899, for an apparatus for duplicating phonograph records.
Telegraph report
Peer-reviewed journal articles show that the Danish newspaper Politiken published one of the earliest articles describing Valdemar Poulsen's (1869–1942) Telegraphone invention on October 21, 1899.
Delivery of revised original drawings for "His Master's Voice"
The Gramophone Company received a revised version of Francis Barraud's (1856–1924) dog portrait (known as "His Master's Voice") in October 1899, and paid the sum of £100 for the painting and copyright.
