Ron has several items available for people who wish to augment their collections of Edisonia or just begin learning about these fascinating records and machines.
His earlier books are out of print, but one is still available: "Edison Disc Artists and Records - A Compilation" It tells the story from the earliest experimental discs to the final needle-cut (lateral) 78's, 1910-1929. It's a great overview of American popular music of the period, plus it's full of fascinating but obscure facts, rare photographs, internal Edison memoranda, etc. 104 pages with special end papers. US $11.95 postpaid (add 10% for overseas delivery).
Ron also has some very high quality reprints of original Edison documents available. They were duplicated from excellent-condition originals from the Edison National Historic Site:
yes, Edison briefly marketed a 40-minute long play record, and here's the instructions on how to convert a standard Diamond Disc machine to play them, plus historical notes. US $4.95
Catalogs 140 records from during the Great War. US $1.95
Bound pages from Ron's now out of print 1982 book of the same title, with reprints of record catalog materials and other goodies from the 1910's and 1920's. Few copies remain. US $8.95
Even if you don't have a Diamond Disc machine, you need this book. How to make it run the way the factory intended. Includes the 1923 update. US $3.95
Operating instructions for Edison's rare first all-electric phonograph, plus historical notes. US $2.95
Their stated goal is to help get as much true sound as possible from phonorecord grooves. If this is your interest too, please visit their Web Site, or drop them a line at:
Victrola and 78 Journal comes out every three months and costs US $3 an issue, or US $15 for a year's full subscription. Each issue is 48 pages of original articles, reviews and rare illustrations. This is a journal for people who collect 78s, cylinders and/or vintage phonographs. Each issue features collectors' "Ten Most Played" lists, which identify the contributors' favorite recordings, accompanied by explanatory notes. Because other publications do an excellent job with ads and auction lists, V78J doesn't have any ads or auction lists -- it's a journal for collectors who want to share information, raise questions, review books and CDs that are new on the market, share copies of interesting old advertising materials about machines and records of the past, and discuss machines and restoration ideas. You can send US $3 for a sample issue, or US $15 for a full subscription, to:
The "Chilton's Repair Manual" For Phonographs
Read & Welch
Allen Koenigsberg; (author and publisher)
The "bible" for Edison records through 1912 (cylinders were made until the crash of 1929).
Copies of the 2nd edition may still be available at about US $50.
(de rigeur among serious collectors)
Subscriptions - US $14 for 10 issues
For a listing of many of the other fine materials Allen has to offer, Click Here!
(WAMS Archivist Note: Mike was kind enough to send me a copy of this outstanding reference, and I can vouch for the high quality of this book and highly recommend it to all Shellac Addicts!)
The Vestal Press
Various Books Dealing With Antique Phonographics
P.O. Box 97
Vestal, NY 13851-0097
(607)797-4872
Return to the W.A.M.S. Home Page