One other point to add here. I also have an ad from November, 1920 from The Literary Digest. So Crescent Talking Machine was around longer than I thought. They no longer use the Silvertone name (perhaps Sears finally stopped them???) but still make the statement about playing ALL types of records.
Glenn ________________________________ From: Glenn Longwell <[email protected]> To: Antique Phonograph List <[email protected]> Sent: Sat, October 31, 2009 10:21:37 AM Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Crescent Silvertone Ron, I would like to know what book that is and, if possible, get scans of the pages that talk about Crescent. I believe these statements, for the most part, are incorrect. I have several ads for Crescent phonographs stating they have a reproducer that plays both style records. In fact, the parts arm of Crescent sold to other phonograph makers the "Playsall" tonearm, meant to play both vertical and lateral. As for who made the records for Crescent the 8" series I'm quite positve were made by Operaphone. It seems obvious by visual inspection but I'm in the process of looking for other proof. Sutton mentions a 2nd series pressed by Rex Talking Machine Co. I don't have any examples of those. The last series were based off of Pathe masters. All were vertical and I don't believe the last series was made vertical by accident. This was still late 1917 so they would have stayed away from lateral by the Victor/Columbia patents, unless the original plan was for universal cut. Sutton does make mention of what you say though. I quote - "George Blacker's conjecture - published in Record Research - that sales fo the final series were poor because the records were incompatible with Crescent phonographs, is incorrect. Most Crescent models were fitted with universal reproducers capable of playing steel-needle vertical-cut discs." Glenn ________________________________ From: Ron L'Herault <[email protected]> To: Antique Phonograph List <[email protected]> Sent: Fri, October 30, 2009 11:54:57 PM Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Crescent Silvertone A book I have say that the Crescent was a lateral machine so the arm or at least the end with the reproducer may not be (probably is not) original. Crescent records were made by Pathe who, in error made them vertical cut, but to be played with a needle ala Aeolian, rather than with a ball stylus ala Pathe. This is one reason the phono company didn't last. Ron L -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Glenn Longwell Sent: Friday, October 30, 2009 9:46 PM To: Antique Phonograph List Subject: [Phono-L] Crescent Silvertone Came home today with a Crescent Talking Machine Co. "Silvertone" phonograph. Somewhat rough shape but was interested in it because they distributed the Crescent line of vertical cut records in the teens. So it comes with a swivel tonearm to play both lateral and vertical. Anyone have any literature from this company showing the various models of phonographs they produced? I'd love a scan of anything anyone has for my research on these companies dealing with vertical cut records. October has been vertical month. Have ended up with about 75 vertical cut records this month from the obscure brands (not Pathe, Edison, Okeh, Paramount) and now the Crescent phonograph. Life is good... Thanks, Glenn _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org
