The Wire and the Lacquer

9 Oct 1948 · 1 min

A four-year-old girl records a message on a magnetic wire machine, possibly for her future self. The uploader dates it between 1945 and 1955 from the 1945 children's book she names. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Date unknown · 15 min

A father teaching his young daughter to read and talk, cut with him singing along to the radio, on a Webster-Chicago wire recorder. The uploader dates it to about 1948. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Date unknown · 18 min

A spool labelled only “Bologna”: a man explains how he makes bologna and summer sausage, then talks about the wire recorder itself. The uploader reads the machine as early-to-mid 1950s. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

1 Jan 1949 · 28 min

A wire recording of KDNT Denton, Texas, made during one of the station's “Denton Story” programmes in 1949, opening with Dr Hubbard of what was then Texas State College for Women on the building of the Little Chapel-in-the-Woods. Held by Denton Public Library. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Date unknown · 7 min

A seven-inch aluminium-cored Audiodisc lacquer cut at 45rpm: what appears to be a school presentation about Abraham Lincoln, both sides joined and levelled by the uploader. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Date unknown · 2 min

An Audiodisc labelled “Voice Training”, in the name of Diane Shaver-Clemens of Wyoming, Ohio. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Date unknown · 2 min

A home Audiodisc found in a Seattle charity shop: two women singing badly and committing to it entirely. The disc is very worn and the hum was left alone. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Date unknown · 9 min

A home-cut Audiodisc lacquer, an unidentified man presenting in Hebrew. Found in a Boston thrift store; the holder suggests around the 1960s and asks for information. Recording held by the Internet Archive;