Don't write-record it on the Voice-O-Graph

The Voice-o-Graph was produced by Mutoscope, the company responsible for flip book peepshow machines on every midway and in every sin palace. Each customer inserted their coins, chose the speed (45 rpm or 78 rpm) and had five minutes to say whatever they liked.They then waited for their own 6" disc to vend right out of the machine. The mailing envelope, which pre-figures the sleeves we get from Netflix, was an additional 5 cents. This example features "Dane + Myself Singing Comming (sic) around the mountain." I have a few other discs which include "Talking about Seaside Beach" "The Penny Arcade" "Little David" and "Spooky Giggling." The machine even warned you when ten seconds was left (I guess so you could cram in the last verse or slur your phone number) The song here is one of those catchy, cheerful child's songs based on death...it was printed in Carl Sandburg's 1927 "The American Songbag" but was based on "When the Chariot Comes", a negro spiritual. An odd song to sing at the seashore, but it did allow some voice and response, and that does make sense.



Voice-O-Graph 6" disc sound recording c. 1955 Collection Jim Linderman

Wallace the Dictator Box Set

I have some friends who create the most beautiful box sets of sound recordings, and I mean truly beautiful works of art by any standard. One day I intend to link to them all. But even they might have trouble matching the glory of "WALLACE DICTATES" which came with six 78 rpm records each in fold out sleeves, no less than ten printed inserts of various forms, including the book "A Woman's Birthright" (a slim body) with 15 pages of testimonials, a diet chart to record your progress and more in a HUGE box which they were able to mail for 15 cents. The original owner of my set lost 5 pounds she dutifully recorded, an amount about equal to the weight of the box. Wallace Camp founded the Wallace Institute in 1920. Shown are only a smidgen of graphics including the time-dishonored technique of "Before and After" testimonials.

Wallace Records Box Set Chicago Illinois c. 1940 Insert details collection Jim Linderman