New-York tribune., 1899-07-23
COLLECTING NEW MASTERS
SOME OF THE CURIOsITIEs OF PHoNO-
GRAPHIC RECORDS.
"New-York has a monopoly Of records"

superiority for the Erp pre City. II was cot as
much 20 say that New York holds the record
in high jumps. century runs pie eating and
every other ennobns contest 1t was only an
answer to the inquiry where all the cylinders
with scratches on them are scratched for use
in the monographs Of this country.
The reason is" the expert went on because
not only is New-York the best centre for bands,
orchestras and soloists. and the point from
which practically all the popular music begins
its career. but it is within easy reach Of the
Edison works at Orange They make their cwn
masters there for their regular stock but they
will also duplicate masters made here. End
the question Of distance counts for great deal
in shipping 4 master which may be ruined IN
transit"
This last remark. it was pointed out. would be
more enlightening II one only knew what (.
master" was
A master record said the 0bisins expert,
lis the original cylinder On which the record is
made from the band or voice, Or whatever sou
want to have recorded"
But the copy il just good for all practical
purposes. isn't it,"
This was a fortunate question because it gave
the expert. l. Reade Catlin. occasion 70 nand
the questioner over % a man who was sitting
near by with much the air Of a Grau listening
70 a new tenor his ear attentyely turned %
the great brass horn Of a ph)nograph which
was doing rag time" for his delectation. The
man before the horn turned with a kindly pity
ing smile when the question was repeated %
him.
Well some day it may he So" he said,
when these people"-pointing % the expert
have accomplished what they now are trying
,rfrfff tod NJ
may fail to detect the difference. we phonosraph
cranks tell. right at the outset Of a per
formance. We can tell by the jump which 50
far has never been faithfully reproduced on a
duplicate record. The jump is the peculiar
effect Of sharp attack on the first note produced
by the sapphire knife entering the surface Of the
cylinder OF course. that is not by any means
Of the greater excellences Of master
record but it marks it,"
Something like the 'remarque' on artists
proof Of an etching" was suggested.
Very much the same. Only a master record
monograph is. to the practised ear. i'm
measuraby better than any Of the copies. while
the first few proofs Of an etching are often Of
about the same merit"
Here was something decidedly novel A man
Of leisure and wealth who made monographs
and photographic records his hobby. As ne ex
pressed it himself Instead Of keeping fast
horses or collecting pictures. I collect records
nearly all masters" This man. resident Of
the suburbs Of New-York. it may be said. and
well known in business circles. collects, not old
masters" but the very newest masters 20 be
had His collection he said. numbered lao at
that moment Before he left the factory he had
increased his collection by score or so. The
market value Of all these wax composition cyl
inders in his possession il not less than 5000
with the exception OF about one hundred and
forty" he said, all my records are musical
have a few records OF well known popular lee
turers and entertainers. But there has been
great difficulty hitherto in getting the individual
quality Of a voice in the phonograph-"
This reminded Mr.. Catn Of something He
turned to a small pine box. picked out cylin-
der. and, fitting it on the machine. set the
phonograph going
"Sankey," the connoisseur u records ex-
claimed That's Ira D. Sankey. and mis-
take about it,"
Il think So" said the expert. Il believe we've
got him right"
4 strong clear. tenor voice was coming from
the horn of the Instrument To any one who
has eyer heard Mr Sankey sing Nearer. Ny
God 20 Thee il was unmistakable in the tim
bre of the voice. the staccat0 enunciation Of the
words and that effect Of earnestness produced
by some secret of sustained emphasis which has
made Sankey's singing potent. religiously as
Moody's preaching.
40" the expert said. in answer 70 a ques-
ton addressed 10 the connosseur Of new mas
ters" We don't sell any Of Mr Sankey's rec
)rds They are made under contract with him
These in this box have TO be sent 10 him. Those
that pass muster as satisfactory are sent to
Orange 70 be duplicated for him The duplicates
will be published with his authorization