Re: [ARSCLIST] NY Times: Researchers Play Tune Recorded before Edison

[Roger and Allison Kulp <thorenstd124@xxxxxxxxx>]

Also,wax cylinders are prone to growing mold,if not properly stored.

                                       Roger

Mike Richter <mrichter@xxxxxxx> wrote: Tom Fine wrote:
> Are you saying that cylinders are technically superior to disks? Or are 
> you saying that Edison's version of a disk was superior to Berliner's? 
> Or are you simply saying that Berliner won out because he could 
> mass-produce disks that sold at a viable price point?


>> The final sentence is the only one with which I disagree. The disc won 
>> out for the same reason that VHS won out over the technically superior 
>> Betamax: practicality. The disc is far more practical to produce and 
>> to handle. Technical issues are significant (and the professional 
>> version of Betamax still survives), but for the producer and the user 
>> operational and cost issues take over.

Oddly, I am saying what I said: The disc won out for ... practicality.

It was cheaper to produce, easier to stock, sell, buy, store and play. 
If you infer from what I said that it had higher fidelity, I would not 
argue with the conclusion, but point out that I did not assert it.

Note that one is hard pressed to be specific about cost of production, 
though it would seem to be higher given the nature of the process by, 
say, 1902. However, price to the consumer is dictated by many factors 
other than cost of production. IMHO, RCA probably would have charged no 
more for a Caruso or Sembrich cylinder (if it had made such) than for 
the disc. The premium for such an artist's record was surely far greater 
than needed to cover the production cost.

Mike
-- 
mrichter@xxxxxxx
http://www.mrichter.com/


       
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