Posted on Apr 5, 2022
Mystery recordings will now be heard for the first time in about 100 years
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https://www.npr.org/2022/04/05/ [login to see] /mystery-recordings-will-now-be-heard-for-the-first-time-in-about-100-years
Before audio playlists, before cassette tapes and even before records, there were wax cylinders — the earliest, mass-produced way people could both listen to commercial music and record themselves.
In the 1890s, they were a revolution. People slid blank cylinders onto their Edison phonographs (or shaved down the wax on commercial cylinders) and recorded their families, their environments, themselves.
"When I first started here, it was a format I didn't know much about," said Jessica Wood, assistant curator for music and recorded sound at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. "But it became my favorite format, because there's so many unknowns and it's possible to discover things that haven't been heard since they were recorded."
They haven't been heard because the wax is so fragile. The earliest, putty-colored cylinders deteriorate after only a few dozen listens if played on the Edison machines; they crack if you hold them too long in your hand. And because the wax tubes themselves were unlabeled, many of them remain mysteries.
Before audio playlists, before cassette tapes and even before records, there were wax cylinders — the earliest, mass-produced way people could both listen to commercial music and record themselves.
In the 1890s, they were a revolution. People slid blank cylinders onto their Edison phonographs (or shaved down the wax on commercial cylinders) and recorded their families, their environments, themselves.
"When I first started here, it was a format I didn't know much about," said Jessica Wood, assistant curator for music and recorded sound at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. "But it became my favorite format, because there's so many unknowns and it's possible to discover things that haven't been heard since they were recorded."
They haven't been heard because the wax is so fragile. The earliest, putty-colored cylinders deteriorate after only a few dozen listens if played on the Edison machines; they crack if you hold them too long in your hand. And because the wax tubes themselves were unlabeled, many of them remain mysteries.
Mystery recordings will now be heard for the first time in about 100 years
Posted from npr.orgPosted in these groups: 
American History
American History
Posted >1 y ago
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1LT Peter Duston
I found home video tapes and photo negatives in the attic from 50 - 70 years ago all unmarked. Exciting to play and print all this family history!
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My mother was born just before the depression, because her family had 7 kids they fostered her out to folks we as her children called Aunt and Uncle even thought they were not physically related. Anyway, my Uncle George was a Band Director during the Big Band Era though not famous nationally he had a good following locally. As a child I have heard some of the recordings they made, several were on Wax, but most were on the first cuttings in Vynil. Wish I know where those were.
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