Guide to the Metal Parts Collections ARS.0126

Finding aid prepared by Franz Kunst
Archive of Recorded Sound
Braun Music Center
541 Lasuen Mall
Stanford University
Stanford, California, 94305-3076
650-723-9312
soundarchive@stanford.edu
© 2012
The Board of Trustees of Stanford University. All rights reserved.


Descriptive Summary

Title: Metal Parts Collections
Dates: 1943-1975
Collection number: ARS.0126
Collection size: 30 boxes : 527 metal parts, with original sleeves
Repository: Archive of Recorded Sound
Abstract: Various metal parts used in the production of phonograph records, including masters, mothers and stampers from multiple donors. Primarily parts for records issued by Music Library Recordings and the Sir Thomas Beecham Society.
Language of Material: Multiple languages

Access

Open for research; material must be requested at least two business days in advance of intended use. Contact the Archive for assistance.

Publication Rights

Property rights reside with repository. Publication and reproduction rights reside with the creators or their heirs. To obtain permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the Head Librarian of the Archive of Recorded Sound.

Preferred Citation

Metal Parts Collections, ARS-0126. Courtesy of the Stanford Archive of Recorded Sound, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Source

The Metal Parts Collections was donated to the Stanford Archive of Recorded Sound by Nate Brown in 1989, Althya Youngman in 1990, and others.

Sponsor

This finding aid was produced with generous financial support from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Scope and Contents

The Metal Parts Collections consists of original masters, mothers and stampers from several donations, including parts for issues from Music Library Recordings, the Sir Thomas Beecham Society and the International Record Collectors Club. Metal parts are used in the production of phonograph records, beginning with the nickel-plated master. Many mothers can be derived from one master, and many stampers from one mother. In some cases stampers produced later document the longevity of certain recordings. However, there are not necessarily masters, mothers and stampers for each release. The Archive maintains a spreadsheet with a full listing of matrix/issue numbers, dates, and other information.

Box 27-30

Beecham Society 1971-1975

Physical Description: 41 metal parts (stampers)

Scope and Contents

The Beecham Society produced several issues for its members of recordings from the great English conductor Sir Thomas Beecham. These stampers are from WSA 5, 501, 502/3, 504/5, 506, 507, 508, 509/12, 513, 514, 516, 517, 518, and 520.
Box 18

International Record Collectors Club

Physical Description: 4 metal parts

Scope and Contents

IRCC specialized in reissues of rare early vocal recordings. These are mothers for three sides; Lilli Lehmann and Hedwig Helbig - Crucifix (204B), Celestina Boninsegna Lucrezia Borgia - Com' e bello (218B), and Marie Delna - Werther-Air des Lettres (3145).
Box 1-18

Music Library Recordings

Physical Description: 468 metal parts

Scope and Contents

Music Library Recordings was a San Francisco label founded by Earl Walker in the late 1940s which issued recordings primarily of chamber, piano, vocal and choral music from composers such as Chopin, Dvorak, Bloch, Krenek, Nixon, Sessions and Antheil. Many of Music Library's albums documented local composers, musicians and previously unrecorded works.The majority of parts are from the MLR-7000s, including performances by the Stanford University Choir, Sandor Salgo conducting a work by Leonard Ratner, and an album of Japanese koto music.
Box 30, Box 18

unidentified German tests 1943

Physical Description: 10 metal parts
Box 18, Box 30

other unidentified parts

Physical Description: 4 metal parts
Box 19-26

original sleeves

Scope and Contents

Sleeves contain dates (several, in the case of some stampers), various numbers, and notes concerning condition.