Music recorded in October 1924
October 1924 was a month of simultaneous progress in the reconstruction of the international order, the expansion of popular culture, and the appreciation of modern science. On the 1st, the 5th General Assembly of the League of Nations adopted the Protocol for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes, strongly advocating for a post-war collective security concept. A general election was held in Britain on the 29th, causing significant political upheaval. On the 23rd, Willem Einthoven (1860–1927) received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work on electrocardiograms, internationally recognizing the development of medical technology. Culturally, André Breton's (1896–1966) Manifesto of Surrealism was published, dramatically changing the direction of avant-garde art. Furthermore, the 1924 World's Colored Championship began on the 3rd, marking an important milestone in both the history of the sport and the history of African American popular culture.
Confirmed recordings this month: 0
Summary of information regarding the recording from October 1924
In the recording industry in October 1924, while commercial activities using existing mechanical recording methods continued, Columbia Graphophone Co. and Victor Talking Machine Company were concretely moving towards the transition to electrical recording using the Western Electric Company's system. At the same time, efforts were being made to improve the supply system for the West Coast, strengthen support measures for retailers, and maintain the existing record business, making it a month in which technological innovation and distribution restructuring ran parallel.
Victor
In October 1924, Victor Talking Machine Company was simultaneously conducting electrical recording trials and strengthening its supply chain for the Western market. On October 7th and 8th, test recordings were made using the Western Electric Company's system, and on the 22nd, the cost of pipe organ recordings was also being considered. At the same time, industry publications described the Oakland factory as a record supply base for the Western market and a facility that would also be advantageous for recording artists in the far west. It appears that in October 1924, the company was entering the practical stage of introducing the new system while expanding mass production and logistics.
- https://mainspringpress.org/2024/01/23/western-electric-test-recordings-the-victor-talking-machine-company-test-pressings-1924-1925/
- https://mainspringpress.org/2025/06/18/the-beginning-of-electrical-recording-part-2-columbia-victor-and-the-western-electric-system/
- https://archive.org/details/talkingmachinewo20bill/page/n875
Columbia
In October 1924, Columbia Graphophone Co. moved from the experimental stage of electrical recording to commercial production. On the 24th, an orchestral recording produced in New York was identified as one of the earliest Western Electric Company-style recordings to be given a standard commercial master number by the company. Also in that month, the company released its first eight Masterworks albums, and began to organize and sell longer works and high-end repertoire. October 1924 was a period when the company was simultaneously introducing new recording methods and developing its product lineup.
- https://mainspringpress.org/2025/06/18/the-beginning-of-electrical-recording-part-2-columbia-victor-and-the-western-electric-system/
- https://timbrooks.net/PDFs/colhist02.pdf
Brunswick
In October 1924, The Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company was tightening its sales network. The October 15th issue of an industry magazine reported that a sales meeting had been held in the eastern region, and that measures to improve services for retailers would be put in place by the following month. This can be seen as an attempt to strengthen support systems at the wholesale and retail levels amidst intensifying competition in the sales of records and phonographs. In October 1924, the company focused more on improving sales operations and sales systems than on topics related to recording technology.
Thomas A. Edison Company
In October 1924, Thomas A. Edison, Inc. continued to exchange letters with its sales representatives. A letter dated October 27th from Thomas Alva Edison (1847–1931) to Mark Silverstone (dates of birth and death unknown) has been confirmed, indicating that communication with its sales network continued during this period. In that year, the company did not rapidly shift to radio-integrated devices, but rather continued to focus on its existing phonograph and record business. October 1924 was a month in which the company focused more on maintaining its existing business and continuing sales communication than on launching innovative new models.
- https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/digital/item?Search=&property%5B0%5D%5Bproperty%5D=77&property%5B0%5D%5Btext%5D=Silverstone%2C+Mark&property%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=eq
- https://mainspringpress.org/2025/08/08/radio-and-the-recording-industry-part-1-radio-vs-phonograph-1922-1926/
