Century-Old Sounds

Columbia Cylinder Records 1889-1908
Columbia is the oldest record company in existence today and goes back to the very beginning of the commercial recording industry in 1889. It was officially founded the year previous and quickly became part of the monopolistic North American Phonograph Company of investor Jesse H. Lippincott until 1894. It had a regional monopoly over Washington D. C., Maryland and Delaware until Lippincott's company crumbled and it went independent and national. One may wonder why I listed Columbia below Victor since the latter doesn't show until 1900. Well, Victor's dominant role in maturing the industry in the first quarter of the 20th Century causes me to begrudgingly do so. Before Victor even appeared though and like Edison, Columbia issued wax cylinders that were either directly recorded, dubbed or moulded depending on the timeframe. Unlike Edison, it started issuing discs too when Victor appeared on the scene and quickly became its chief rival. When discs went double-sided in 1908 Columbia saw no need to continue its own cylinder recording, even though it bought the newly-formed Indestructible Phonographic Record Company as a subsidiary and issued cylinders (made of celluloid) for a few more years before cutting that company loose again.
* - a subsequent artist who remade the selection by an earlier performer, therefore a re-release; however, only the release date by the first artist is ever known and thus given

Encoded Speed: 192 Kbps

The Old Log Cabin In The Dell

Imperial Minstrels with Steve Porter

Columbia Brown Wax #13002

released 1896-1897

Note: Weak sound with a few stripped grooves. 132 RPM.

Unfiltered

Why Don't You Write a Letter Home?

Steve Porter

Columbia Brown Wax #4593

released 1897-1900

Note: Extreme wear and mold. 120 RPM.

When I Think Of You

Steve Porter

Columbia Brown Wax #4609

released 1897-1900

Note: Some mold, weak in the middle. Skip at "dew" corrected. 140 RPM.

Unfiltered

Farmyard Medley

Male Quartette

Columbia Brown Wax #9037

released 1896-1900

Note: Extreme wear and mold. Sounds best at 140 RPM.

Unfiltered

A Bad Little Boy's Version of "Jack, the Giant Killer"

Harry Spencer

Columbia Brown Wax #11090

released 1896-1900

Note: Extreme wear and mold. 120 RPM.

Unfiltered

Sea Flower Polka

Columbia Orchestra

Columbia Brown Wax #15023

released 1896-1900

Note: Extreme wear and mold. 120 RPM.

Unfiltered

The Capture of Santiago

Columbia Orchestra

Columbia Brown Wax #15191

released 1898-1900

Note: Extreme wear and mold. 120 RPM.

Unfiltered

The Charge of Roosevelt's Rough Riders

Columbia Orchestra

Columbia Brown Wax #15195

released 1898-1900

Note: Extreme wear and mold. 120 RPM.

	The Midshipmite words by Fred E. Weatherly, music by Stephen Adams 'Twas in fifty five, on a winter's night, Cheerily my lads yo - ho! We'd got the Rooshan lines in sight, When up came a little Midshipmite, Cheerily my lads yo - ho! "Who'll go ashore tonight" says he, "An' spike their guns along wi' me?" "Why, bless 'ee, sir, come along" says we, Cheerily my lads yo - ho! Cheerily my lads yo - ho! With a long, long pull, An' a strong, strong pull, Gaily boys, make her go, An' we'll drink tonight, To the Midshipmite, Singing cheerily my lads yo - ho! We launch'd the cutter and shoved her out, Cheerily my lads yo - ho! The lubbers might ha' heard us shout, As the Middy cried, "Now, my lads, put about!" Cheerily my lads yo - ho! We made for the guns, an' we ram'd 'em tight, But the musket shots came left and right, An' down drops the poor little Midshipmite, Cheerily my lads yo - ho! Cheerily my lads yo - ho! With a long, long pull, An' a strong, strong pull, Gaily boys, make her go, An' we'll drink tonight, To the Midshipmite, Singing cheerily my lads yo - ho!
The Midshipmite
J. W. Myers
Columbia Brown Wax #5609(-4)
1901-1904