Blue Amberol Records
| Company type | Brand |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music recording |
| Predecessor | Amberol records (black wax cylinders) |
| Founded | 1912 |
| Founder | Thomas A. Edison, Inc. |
| Defunct | 1929 |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Cylinder records |
Blue Amberol Records was the brand name for cylinder records manufactured by Thomas A. Edison, Inc. in the United States from 1912 until 1929, specifically designed for use with the amberola player. These cylinders followed the 4-minute black wax Amberol records introduced in 1908, which themselves had replaced the earlier 2-minute wax cylinders that had been the industry standard since the late 1880s. Blue Amberol cylinders provided playback durations of up to 4 minutes and 45 seconds and were distinguished by a robust celluloid coating tinted in Edison blue. Phonographs built to accommodate Amberol cylinders were branded as Amberolas.
Edison wax Amberols
The introduction of the four-minute Amberol cylinder occurred in 1908, crafted from a harder black wax compared to previous models. This particular wax formulation was also utilized for the 2-minute cylinders until the advent of Blue Amberols in 1912. Although the Amberol cylinder stimulated a rise in sales initially, it presented several issues: vulnerability to breakage during play, rapid surface degradation, and inconsistent audio fidelity caused by shrinkage during production.[1]
Edison Blue Amberols
In 1912, Edison overcame the limitations of wax by acquiring Thomas B. Lambert’s patent for celluloid and transitioning to manufacturing blue-hued celluloid cylinders with a plaster core. This advancement enhanced cylinder sales due to improved sound quality that initially surpassed subsequent releases. Starting in January 1915, production shifted toward creating cylinders acoustically dubbed from Diamond Disc records, which resulted in a more hollow sound compared to the original recordings; electronic dubbing techniques were introduced in December 1927. Occasionally, surface noise from the source discs can be detected on these dubbed cylinders.
Apart from the primary popular and sacred music series (catalog numbers #1501–5719), Edison offered Concert Blue Amberols featuring opera and classical repertoire performed by distinguished artists; this series was later succeeded by Royal Purple Amberols catering to refined musical tastes. Special edition sets labeled A through H were distributed alongside conversion kits intended for upgrading older phonograph models. Additionally, Edison produced instructional Blue Amberols aimed at language learning, Morse code practice, foreign markets (including French and German language editions), rural Mexican consumers (with unique 2-minute versions), and extended-duration dictation cylinders for the Ediphone, which outlived entertainment cylinder production.
Technical
Edison Blue Amberols consist of a celluloid outer layer molded over a plaster core. This celluloid surface withstands hundreds of playbacks with only a slight increase in surface noise when used with properly maintained equipment and stylus.
These cylinders play for approximately 4 minutes and 45 seconds at the standard post-1902 speed of 160 rpm. By employing a finer groove pitch of 200 lines per inch, they offer twice the playing time compared to traditional 2-minute cylinders. Playing Blue Amberols requires a smaller stylus tip and a modified worm-gear speed; therefore, they are incompatible with older phonographs unless those machines are adapted. To facilitate this transition, Thomas A. Edison, Inc provided upgrade kits containing new gear assemblies and reproducers for existing machines and also sold new phonograph models capable of handling both cylinder types. Operators would switch gears using a knob or lever and ensure the appropriate stylus was installed when changing between record formats.
Internal horn Edison phonographs built for four-minute cylinders bore the name Amberolas. The first model, released in 1909 as the Amberola IA, featured selectable gearing for both 2- and 4-minute playback speeds and came equipped initially with an unmarked Model "L" reproducer; this was soon replaced by the Model "M" reproducer which offered flip-over sapphire styli optimized for both durations on wax cylinders. Some early Model M reproducers included a flattened fishtail counterweight.
With the debut of Blue Amberols in 1912, Edison replaced the Model M with the Diamond A reproducer specifically engineered for celluloid cylinders; its conical diamond stylus with a fine tip applied greater pressure unsuitable for wax records. External horn phonographs utilized the Diamond B reproducer. More economical Amberola versions such as models V, VI, and X were available alongside the IA and later four-minute-only IB and III models.
Following a factory fire in December 1914, Edison streamlined the Amberola lineup both mechanically and aesthetically by introducing four-minute-only models—the Amberola 30, 50, and 75—each model number corresponding to its original retail price in dollars; these featured the Diamond C reproducer. The external horn Opera model (later renamed Concert) produced between 1911 and 1912 shared mechanisms with IB and III models; it originally used the Model L reproducer fitted with an elliptical sapphire stylus designed for wax Amberols but switched to the Diamond A reproducer after Blue Amberols were launched.
Archival storage of cylinders
Blue Amberol Records consist of an "Amberol" plastic layer applied over a plaster of Paris core, which introduces specific challenges for their long-term preservation. The plaster base tends to swell over time, particularly in environments with high humidity, which can lead to distortion of the cylinder or difficulties in mounting it on phonograph mandrels. Minor swelling may be addressed by carefully reaming the plaster to reestablish the correct internal diameter; however, extensive expansion can cause the plastic playing surface to crack or split, making the cylinder unusable. Exposure to freezing temperatures worsens this damage by inducing moisture expansion within the plaster and contraction of the celluloid coating, often resulting in sudden fractures.
The plastic used in Blue Amberol cylinders is nitrocellulose, a combustible organic compound susceptible to chemical breakdown. Despite this vulnerability, severe deterioration similar to that seen in nitrate film stock has rarely been documented in Blue Amberols or comparable celluloid cylinders such as Lambert, Albany Indestructible, and US Everlasting.
See also
External links
- Edison Blue Amberol cylinder recordings, hosted by the Cylinder Preservation and Digitization Project at the University of California, Santa Barbara Library.
- Civilisations
- First musical recordings made in Puerto Rico found - Notiséís 360 PR (news outlet on YouTube - Spanish language)
- ↑ Examples include "Stars and Stripes Forever" (US) and "Poppies and Wheat" (UK)