Not to wander too far off topic, but when I think of Luisa, I think of food...
One of my favorites is chicken tetrazzini...
> From: [email protected]
> To: [email protected]
> Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 20:13:50 -0600
> Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Human nature...
>
> I have a Victrola XIV faintly autographed on the motorbord in white ink
> dated 1921 by Luisa Tetrazzini. Always assumed she signed this at some
> Victor dealer's. Its in storage now, so I can't quote exactly what was
> written.
>
> Some years ago Fred McCole offered me what he jokingly called an "Amberola
> II" - a I-A mechanism installed in a III case. (I think he may have
> intimated that he sold the original III mechanism to someone who was
> turning them into Operas.
>
> Jim Cartwright
> Immortal Performances
>
> [email protected]
>
>
> > [Original Message]
> > From: DeeDee Blais <[email protected]>
> > To: <[email protected]>
> > Date: 11-Jan-2011 11:00:37 PM
> > Subject: [Phono-L] Human nature...
> >
> > Years ago I purchased a Victrola that was autographed by Louisa
> Tetrazzini.
> > Next to the turntable, handwritten in white ink was "Souvenir from
> Louisa
> > Tetrazzini, April, 1923". Over the years I acquired other Tetrazzini
> items that
> > were signed with the same signature and I'm reasonably sure that the
> Victrola
> > autograph is genuine. But why did she sign the Victrola? I developed a
> romantic
> > theory that she was in Portland, Oregon for a performance and instead of
> staying
> > in one of the hotels, she stayed with a wealthy Portland family. As a
> courtesy
> > for their hospitality, she signed their Victrola. I really wanted to
> believe my
> > theory, right up to the moment that I saw another Victrola with the same
> > inscription and same date! I had to face the fact that she must have
> signed
> > several Victrolas, probably at a Victrola sales promotion for a large
> dealer. I
> > really wanted to believe that my Victrola XVI was the only "Tetrazzini"
> > Victrola. Then I saw a second and it was a XVII!
> > *
> > I know strange things happened but they were the exception. I've
> personally
> > seen a Vernis Martin Victrola with an upside down decal. I was
> dumbfounded!
> > With that said, I still think 99.99% (or more) of the big Amberolas left
> the
> > factory with matching numbers. Those numbers were there for a reason.
> When an
> > Edison was traded in, the number was recorded by the dealer. Stolen
> machines
> > were identified by the serial numbers. I would not expect a dealer to
> swap a
> > mechanism from one new machine to another but it was possible. Those
> machines
> > are a century old and the original owners a long gone. Even a machine
> that has
> > been in one family has gone through several family members and probably
> repairs.
> > When those same machines started to be collectable I suspect first
> generation
> > collectors upgraded mechanisms and cabinets until they were pleased and
> gave no
> > thought to the serial numbers. I remember reading a modern collector
> statement
> > that he was against swapping any mechanism or cabinet. I immediately
> realized
> > that I had violated his ethical position by swapping out a very ordinary
> and
> > dull works for a nicer one in my mahogany Edison Standard B. Even though
> the
> > replacement mechanism was period correct, I had not even considered for
> one
> > moment what I was doing something wrong.
> > *
> > I recently bought a NOS 1968 Sting-Ray Run-A-Bout from a man that was a
> dealer
> > in the 60's and 70's. The bike was never sold until I bought it. I
> asked the
> > seller if he would write a note on his old letterhead with a brief
> history of
> > that bike. I was with my son, Tyler, and grandson, Wyatt. Tyler
> inquired why I
> > asked for the note and I replied that "providence" of the bike was
> important.
> > Wyatt asked what that meant and I replied that the note would show the
> history
> > of the bike from the Schwinn factory to me.
> > *
> > If I were buying a big Amberola and questioned the seller why the numbers
> didn't
> > match and his reply was "it's always been that way... my grandfather
> bought it
> > new...", that's really not providence. Too many things could have
> happened. I
> > may really really want to believe it but my better judgement says
> otherwise.
> > *
> > I'll stop now or I'll need to get a title for this book.
> >
> >
> >
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