Making A Record (1918-1924)

"There are many kinds of records but to-day we speak of phonograph records first the performers sing and play into a recording machine where a wax impression is made."
M/S of operatic style singer singing into a large recording instrument. "The wax impression is graphited and placed in a special bath." C/U of man placing the wax record onto a machine. He presses a button so that the record revolves and he rubs something onto the disc. M/S of man standing beside a large tank of liquid. The record is lowered into the bath. "Twelve hours later a metal shell has been formed and it is taken out." M/S of the disc being removed from the bath. "The metal shell is then stripped from the wax impression and placed in a nickel bath, forming what is known as the "Master Record." M/S of man at work stripping the metal shell. The two pieces are separated and presented to the camera. The metal disks are again placed into a bath. "A heavy steel backing is placed on this master record." M/S of man in overalls at work on a vice. "Records are made from a composition of shellac, lampblack and clay, which is mixed and pressed between large heated rollers." M/S of man lifting great big coils of the material into a press. The substance goes through some rollers and emerges flat on the other side. Another worker collects the flattened substance. It is then put through another set of rollers. "The composition is then spread between two master records and under hydraulic pressure the softer composition is moulded into the record so familiar to all." C/U of the soft material being placed on top of the mould and pressed down. The other side of the metal mould is placed on top then the whole thing is placed in a vice. The vice is lowered, the mould removed, a nail banged through the middle for the hole, mould is taken off and voila! A record. M/S of completed gramophone record being presented to the camera.
2 safety prints exist - no neg.
Note: I think that this is probably an American item.
FILM ID:1008.13
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