Re: [ARSCLIST] 16" transcription player on ebay

[Tom Fine <tflists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Doug:

This was a common way of distributing serialized radio programs at one time. The Bill Cosby Radio 
Program, for one, was put together and duplicated at my father's studio and radio stations could be 
on the list for either a weekly reel of tape or a weekly 16" LP record.

DO NOT PLAY THIS RECORD ON AN OLD "TRANSCRIPTION PHONOGRAPH" from the Pre-LP Era! The stylus will be 
too wide and track too heavy and thus ruin it on just one pass! Please read the previous sentence 
again and do not proceed unless you clearly understand what I'm saying. An LP (microgroove) record 
will be ruined by a wide-groove stylus tracking at some heavy weight like has been mentioned by 
others on this list. However, if this record is indeed a pre-LP record, it's fine on the older 
equipment. I can't tell for sure from your photos but you specifically say "LP" several times in 
your text, so I'm assuming you're talking about microgroove records.

If you do indeed have an LP, the reason a 16" would be distributed to radio stations is that they 
would have turntables capable of that size and more time can be fit on a 16" side at 33 1/3 RPM. So, 
for instance, with the Bill Cosby program, you could fit 5 weekly shows of about 6 minutes each, cut 
super-loud for AM radio. Thus, two weeks of shows could be pressed on one 16" record.

I hope this helps. If you don't have a microgroove record, you don't need to heed my warning above, 
but I'd still play something potentially rare like this on a good rig and ... CLEAN IT GENTLY WITH A 
NON-ALCOHOL SOLUTION before playing it.

You might consider contacting an expert on grooved disk transfers like Art Shifrin 
(www.shifrin.net).

-- Tom Fine
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Doug Henkle" <henkle@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, September 05, 2007 9:42 AM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] 16" transcription player on ebay


> At 12:21 PM 09-04-2007 -0500, you wrote:
> > http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190149285261&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1
>
>      I have only one 16" LP which, until the above, I thought was unplayable by anything still in 
> existence.  I found it at a Wisconsin record show several years ago.  Could anybody point me at a 
> resource, on-line or a book, that gives historical details about transcription discs that might 
> answer my questions?
>
>    What was their purpose, radio play only, or something else?
>    Why were they made in 16" instead of 12" or 10"?
>    What years were they made?
>    What format were transcriptions made in before and after the 16" LP format?
>
>      I have scanned the labels of my red vinyl LP
> http://www.folklib.net/graphics/ls/uw_band_16in_lp_prog59.jpg
> http://www.folklib.net/graphics/ls/uw_band_16in_lp_prog60.jpg
> The University of Wisconsin Band Program
> Program No. 59 / 60
> 33-1/3 RPM  Outside Start
> Release only during the period from
> April 10 through April 16 / April 17 through April 23
> This program is identified as a transcription
> both in the opening and close, and no further
> identification is necessary
>
> The dead wax markings have,
> UW BAND 59 (block letters all caps)
> U. of W. Band #60 (handwritten script)
>
>      I gather there must be at least 58 other sides just like this, and maybe more?  There is no 
> year mentioned.  The paper sleeve has,
> American Cancer Society / 1948 Drive (back side is blank)
> http://www.folklib.net/graphics/ls/uw_band_16in_sleeve_a.jpg
> http://www.folklib.net/graphics/ls/uw_band_16in_sleeve_b.jpg
> http://www.folklib.net/graphics/ls/uw_band_16in_sleeve_c.jpg
> http://www.folklib.net/graphics/ls/uw_band_16in_sleeve_d.jpg
>
> According to the TimeLine of Sound and Broadcast Technology,
>    http://www.classicthemes.com/technologyTimeline.html
> the first LP was made by Columbia in 1948 and presumably no one else until 1949 or after.  Anyone 
> have any idea what year this LP might have been created?  Thanks.
> ____________________________________________________________
> Doug Henkle - mailto:henkle@xxxxxxxxx
> P.O. Box 1447, Oshkosh, WI 54903-1447
>
> http://www.folklib.net/index/wi/
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