CLPGS Reference Series as of 2011

The CLPGS is proud to present the CLPGS Reference Series.

Current titles include:

RS1         The Tale of Two Toms – An Indestructible Saga, by Keith Harrison.  This traces the development of the indestructible cylinder from Lioret to modern times, and includes a detailed time line of significant events.  The CD included contains some rare examples of the genre including early Lamberts through to Edison Bell, Everlasting, Indestructible and Edison Amberols.

RS2         Mr Edison’s Sublime Gift to Man, by Dominic Combe.  This short history of the Edison Diamond Disk was presented to the CLPGS in 2009 and explores the history of the machine, the Tone Tests and other developments.  The CD contains a number of superb Diamond Disc recordings.

RS3         The British Record Industry during the Reign of Edward VII : 1901-1910, by Frank Andrews.  Frank’s exhaustive study of the British scene in the early 20^th Century is a detailed account of the development of the industry, covering the evolution of the disc and cylinder market.  The story is a fascinating one, and opens a window into the formative years of the industry.

RS4         Caledoniana, by Dominic Combe is another CLPGS presentation, this covering Scottish history and the music arising from it.  The CD included contains early disc and cylinder recordings, and the text supports the music with history of both the performances and the performers.  A must for Scots and Sassenachs alike.

RS5         Caledoniana 2, by Dominic Combe, which is the sequel to RS4, provides additional fascinating facts and music along the same theme.  The subject is a large one, and the second presentation on Scottish music and artists is as informative as the first.  The CD contains another 22 tracks of music with a Scottish theme.

RS6         The Ultimate Phonograph Cylinder Handbook, by Keith Harrison.  This is a larger book containing a history of most cylinder manufacturers and coloured pictures of many cylinders and boxes.  It will be invaluable to those who study manufacturers of cylinders and the artists who recorded on them.  The database CD included provides sortable and cross referred details of over 60,000 cylinder numbers, with details of performers, titles, composers, lyricists and other information.  Anyone who is interested in cylinder recordings will find this an invaluable asset.

RS7         Restoring the Edison Gem phonograph, by Mike Field.  Mike is an acknowledged expert in phonograph and gramophone restoration and this is a reprint of his informative work, published by the CLPGS in 1986 and long out of print.  It has been updated by Mike in 2011 and is a must for anyone attempting to maintain one of these fine little machines.

RS8         Favorite Records, by Frank Andrews and Bill Dean-Myatt.  This is a meticulous discography of the Favorite and Imperial labels, and includes a history of the labels and a CD containing a sortable database of the records they produced.  The database contains fascinating data regarding matrix numbers, recording dates and other information.

RS9         Phonograph Cylinder Histories 1 - Britannia, British Lambert and Star, by Frank Andrews, is another example of his superbly detailed research. Frank charts the founding, rise, and fall of these little companies, and rare samples of their music are included on the associated CD.

RS10       The Divine Ones, by Richard Taylor.  In this work Richard studies the divas of jazz from the twenties and thirties to the present day and has included some rare and seminal recordings on the evocative CD enclosed.

RS11       Beka Records, by Frank Andrews and Bill Dean-Myatt.  This complements RS8, and is an exhaustive study of the label, including a history and a CD containing a computer searchable discography and examples of Beka company record labels.

RS12       The Story of Edison Bell, by Dominic Combe, provides a detailed insight into the company, from its beginnings with cylinders through its battles with Edison and on to its disc production.  There are plenty of pictures of artists and records of all types, supported by a great CD of 25 tracks.

Available at Christmas 2011:

RS13       Phonograph Cylinder Histories 2 - Electric, International Indestructible and Russell.  Frank Andrews provides characteristic detail of the arrival and short lives of three more little British cylinder manufacturers, adding further detail to the turbulent Edwardian age of early recording.  This is an ideal companion to RS9 and includes a CD containing rare recordings.

RS14       Early Duplication Methods, by Dominic Combe.  In this work Dominic researches the various methods used to duplicate acoustic recordings in the early days.  Examples of each are included on the enclosed CD, demonstrating the differing levels of success that were achieved.  This is an interesting study into an often overlooked problem confronting recording pioneers.

Available Spring 2012:

RS15       Phonograph Cylinder Histories 3 – Lambert, by Keith Harrison.  This traces the evolution of the Chicago Lambert company., its cylinders and its links with companies in the UK.  In contains many pictures and details of each cylinder type, and comes with a CD of rare recordings.

RS16       Sound Recordings in Britain 1890-1903.  This is another of Frank Andrews’ fine accounts of early recording development, and covers the very early days of record companies in the UK when the industry was in its infancy.  It makes a fine ‘prequel’ to RS3 and sets the scene for the boom in the record medium in the early 20^th century.