SOTH would like to thank our latest contributor Michael Lloyd-Davies for his insightful review on the memoirs of Joe Batten – pioneer recording manager. By Michael Lloyd-Davies In his foreward to Joe Batten’s memoirs, Joe is described by Sir Compton McKenzie as “that other great recorder” bracketed with Freddy Gaisberg. Joe Batten’s story isContinue reading “Joe Batten’s Book: The Story of Sound Recording”
Category Archives: BOOKS
HIS MASTER’S GRAMOPHONE, part 4
From functional to luxury. Within a short 3-4 years the Gramophone became the status symbol of the age, so inevitably the designers determined to take advantage of the privileged market by creating machines that were not only wonderful pieces of furniture, but also hid the rather cumbersome horn. Enter the Sheraton Grand, the first enclosedContinue reading “HIS MASTER’S GRAMOPHONE, part 4”
HIS MASTER’S GRAMOPHONE, part 3
As interest in the gramophone increased, so did the ingenuity of the Gramophone Company’s technicians. Outside the limits of most people’s finances, these machines were still largely owned by the wealthy, so how to bring all this wonderful recorded music to the mass public? The early machines and discs were incapable of fillingContinue reading “HIS MASTER’S GRAMOPHONE, part 3”
HIS MASTER’S GRAMOPHONE, part 2
With kind permission of its creators Christopher Proudfoot and Brian Oakley we continue our series of extracts from “His Master’s Gramophone” … Introducing the Single Spring Monarch Style No.11 In production from 1901-1905, this machine was specially designed to play the newly introduced 10” Concert recordings issued in 1901. Costing £10 in 1901, the price wasContinue reading “HIS MASTER’S GRAMOPHONE, part 2”
HIS MASTER’S GRAMOPHONE
PART 1 We made mention of this fine new hardback book a few months back, but feel it deserves more attention, and so, with the kind permission of its creators Christopher Proudfoot and Brian Oakley, we’re starting a series of extracts to give/remind you of the first golden era of recorded music and theContinue reading “HIS MASTER’S GRAMOPHONE”
Our First Plug!
This is very exciting. We’ve been asked to spread the news about a new book. Our first plug! And we are very pleased to say that the book in question is rather lovely; it’s a lavishly-illustrated, information-packed hardback book printed on high quality silk paper with colour digital photographs, comprehensive descriptions, technical details, originalContinue reading “Our First Plug!”
Sound Of The Hound 