HISTORIC MASTERS. AAn ongoing series of vocal 78 reissues pressed directly from EMI metal parts. Many unique first editions are included as well as superb pressings from original metals of rare items. For information and ordering details, see the official Website: www.historicmasters.org

CDs, BOOKs, LPs, 78s. IIf it is recorded or printed and of interest to collectors, NORBECK, PETERS & FORD are sure to have it in their huge stock. In addition to periodic lists featuring all important CD issues related to historical performances and the latest in books, they have an extensive inventory of LPs, 78s and out-of-print books on music and musicians.  NORBECK, PETERS & FORD, 59 Congress Street, Saint Albans, VT, 05478-1611. Fax: 1-888-819-4831 (24 hours), Phone: 1-802-524-7673 or 1-800-654-5302 (10 a.m.- 5 p.m. EST, Monday-Friday); E-Mail: norpete@sover.net ; Web Site: www.norpete.com. Their excellent Website and extensive catalogue feature many CDs and books impossible to find elsewhere. Their service is extraordinarily prompt.  IN ADDITION, NORBECK, PETERS & FORD  provides an inventory of thousands of excellent instrumental, vocal, popular & spoken-word 78s, all alphabetized and in numerical order so they are able to fill special requests within minutes. The same applies to thousands of books related to music. They have my highest recommendation.

RECORD CLEANING SOLUTION. There is a company directly related to the cleaning of discs (all varieties of 78s as well as LPs). Their special “Miracle Record Cleaner” formula is designed to meet your needs, along with helpful equipment to complete the task.  Contact: The Disc Doctor, Lagniappe Chemicals Ltd., P.O. Box 37066, St. Louis, MO  63141. Voice/Fax: 314-205-1388; e-mail:  thedoctor@discdoc.com.  Web Site: http://discdoc.com.

Among the leading dealers in MUSICAL AUTOGRAPHS AND PHOTOGRAPHS issuing catalogues I might point out:  Roger Gross (15 West 81st St., NYC, NY, 10024, phone: 212-759-2894/fax: 212-838-5425).  In addition to autographs, Mr. Gross often offers interesting books and programs. Longtime autograph and photo collector Bill Ecker has established Harmonie Autographs and Music Inc. (445 E. 86th St., #141, NYC, NY 10028.  E-Mail harmonieautog@aol.com), a source for interesting and often rare signed materials. He has quickly become among the world’s leading dealers.  Noted artist, author and reviewer Harold Bruder (211 West 56th St., Apt. 24-C, New York City, NY 10019. Fax/phone 212-315-1909, E-Mail DELLAN580257058@aol.com) issues lists of early programs, photos, autographs, books and so on. La Scala Autographs (301 No. Harrison St., Box 900, Princeton, NJ, 08540; phone: 609-430-1111, fax: 609-430-2262) has been for years a leading source of autograph material. Long active in the autograph field is Joyce B. Muns (1162 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94707. E-Mail: Jbmuns@aol.com).  Her lists include a variety of music-related autograph material. Safka and Bareis Autographs (P.O. Box 886, Forest Hills, NY 11375, phone/fax: 718-263-2276) lists  include musical artists as well as personalities in various facets of the arts. To add another Website sure to be of interest, I would suggest Tamino – Opera & Classical Music Memorabilia at www.operacollectors.com. They deal in Opera, Classical Music, Ballet, Flamenco and Tango autographs, vintage programs, etc.

CD FANS. You know the rave reviews given Ward Marston for his transfers for various companies, notably Romophone and Naxos. His own company, Marston, has produced a number of CDs of exceptional collector interest (vocal, instrumental, and spoken word) and also has some fascinating projects scheduled for the future.  Anyone desiring further information can view the Marston  website (www.marstonrecords.com) or write to Marston, 412 N. Chester Road, Swarthmore, PA 19081. Their CD issues can also be purchased directly or via Norbeck, Peters & Ford.

OPERA BOOKS AND RELATED EPHEMERA are sold by Prof. Stanley Henig, 10 Yealand Drive, Lancaster LA1 4EW, England, U.K. via occasional sales lists. These include many rare and interesting items. For a free copy, contact Prof. Henig either via mail or e-mail SHenig@78rpm.fsnet.co.uk

MAINSPRING PRESS PRESS is the source for invaluable publications for collectors. The remarkable books by Dr. John R. Bolig document the Victor Red Seal acoustics, the Purple and Blue labels, as well as the Black Label. Other Mainspring publications include The Edison Discography, 1926-29 by Raymond R. Wile and Allan Sutton’s American Stage Performers. I refer to one or another of the extraordinary useful Mainspring Press publications daily. I’d strongly suggest visiting their Website: www.mainspringpress.com. Mainspring Press, 9230 S. Buttonhill Court, Highlands Ranch, CO 80130-4421.

For RECORD CLEANING, there is none better than the Keith Monks record cleaning machine.  Seth B. Winner Sound Studios (2055 Whalen Avenue, Merrick, NY, 11566-5320) is the exclusive U.S. distributor, both for the machines and spare parts. For information, contact Mr. Winner at the above address or via e-mail (SethBWinner@optonline.net), fax (516-771-0031) or voice (516-771-0028).  Being one of the world's leaders in sound restoration, Mr. Winner would also be a likely person to contact for any work you might require in this area. He is able to bring back to life almost any ailing discs.

VIDEO and CD TREASURES. IIf you collect videos and CDs of great artists of the past, you'll certainly wish to investigate the DVDs and CDs issued by the BEL CANTO SOCIETY, INC.  Prices are very reasonable (there are even occasional sales) and the product quality is excellent.  The easiest way to investigate their work is their Website: belcantosociety.org.

ARSC (ASSOCIATION FOR RECORDED SOUND COLLECTIONS, INC.).This is the one major international organization for all private collectors, dealers, discographers, scholars, and archivists. Membership is $45. per calendar year (U.S.), other rates (student, institutional, overseas) available via the Website (below).  In addition to the journals and newsletters, there is an annual conference and, in some locations, local ARSC chapters. All in all, this is a group which should be of interest to every collector. Membership can be secured via the ARSC Website: arsc-audio.org or via Peter Shambarger, ARSC Executive Director, PO Box 543, Annapolis, MD 21404-0543

CATALOGUE OF INTEREST TO RECORD COLLECTORS.I'd like to suggest the PHONOPASSION catalogues produced by Andreas Schmauder, Im Bohrer 26, 79289 Horben, GERMANY. E-mail: phonopassion@t-online.de. Mr.  Schmauder's catalogues, very attractively presented and containing a variety of interesting and rare records, are sure to appeal to beginning and well advanced collectors alike. His website is www.phonopassion.de.

My mention of "Levik" in comments throughout the catalogue refers to The Levik Memoirs: An Opera Singer's Notes, translated from Russian by Edward Morgan and published by Symposium Records, 110 Derwent Avenue, East Barnet, Hertfordshire, EN4 8LZ, England. I'd recommend this as an invaluable information resource for those who are interested in Russian singers of (in general) the 1900-1916 period. Other extremely useful sources of singer data are the various Kutsch/Riemens biographical reference books, the most recent published by K. G. Saur in Munich, Germany.

I am extremely indebted to Gregor Benko, who continues to generously make available rare photographs and early magazines from which some of the photos in this catalogue are reproduced, and Roberto Marcocci, who has made available details on some of the more obscure singers. We all owe them a debt of gratitude. I also greatly appreciate the help of proofreader  James Martin.

Mikrokosmos continues their monthly listings of violin, piano, chamber music and vocal LPs To visit their Website: www.mikrokosmos.com.  For e-mail contact: mikro@mikrosmos.com or, via postal mail, Mikrokosmos., 57 Kenton Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M2R 2H9, CANADA. 

Collector of old violin recordings (78s and cylinders) is desperately looking for some very rare recordings still missing from his archive. Highest prices will  be offered or alternatively great vocal, piano or orchestral rarities will be made available for trade. A detailed want-list will be gladly sent upon request.  He has been at work over a decade on a “Biographical Dictionary of Violinists, 1830-1930” and is still looking for information on hundreds of violinists who recorded but for whom, so far, little or no biographical information has turned up. Any help will be greatly appreciated and fully acknowledged. A list of these violinists will be sent upon request. Write, phone, or fax:  Mr. Kevork Marouchian, P.O. Box 860 408, 81631 Munich, Germany. Phone: +49-89-957-7619  -  Fax +49-89-929-5272

The New York Vocal Record Collectors’ Society,   Iin its sixth decade (founded in 1956), welcomes members whether local, national or international. Monthy programs are given by well-known collectors and experts on vocal music, and occasionally by noted singers of the past. More recent singer-guests have included Lucine Amara, Marta Eggerth, Elinor Ross and Luba Tcheresky. Although NYC-based, the VRCS includes members from 8 countries, 21 states and the District of Columbia. Members receive a monthly newsletter, an open invitation to any and all monthly meetings and  the annual VRCS CD, a state-of-the-art reissue of rare and desirable (mostly) 78 rpm recordings which have not previously been available on CD. Dues are $40 annually for single memberships and $50 annually for joint memberships.  For more information, visit www.collup.com/vrcs/vrcs.html or write to Joseph Pearce, 116 Norman Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11222.

ON THE AIRWAVES (AND INTERNET)

EVENING AT THE OPERAis broadcast every Tuesday from 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 p.m., New York time. Host DOUG FOX presents topical programs and complete operas, often with collector and singer guests.  On FM at 88.1, 90.1 and 91.5 from WMNR-FM, Monroe, CT,  and on the internet at wmnr.org.  The station’s website also lists other frequencies available in CT and NY State. .

Holdridge Records
Mail: 54 East Lake Drive, Amityville, NY, 11701-3211 USA
Voice: 631-598-2409 • Fax: 631-691-5207
Email: larhold@bway.net

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