Welcome
to Mainspring Press, the leading publisher of books, CDs, and
free online resources devoted to historic sound recordings. We invite
you
to browse the website, visit us on Facebook, and enjoy all we have to
offer collectors and researchers of early cylinder and 78-rpm records.
“The
benchmark publisher for well-researched, literate recording scholarship”
— ARSC Journal
|
|
|
|
Coming
Attractions.....
Victor
scroll-label design used with
permission of Sony Music Enterprises.
|
Mainspring
CDs •
For Windows (Mac OS-X Compatible)
THE
VARSITY DISCOGRAPHY
Volume I: United States Record Corp. Series
USRC's
complete Varsity series — the original issues as well
as full data
on the Varsity reissues from Crown, Gennett, Paramount, etc.
Includes
historical introduction by Allan Sutton.
THE
VOCALION DISCOGRAPHY
Volume I: Vocalion 14000 Series
Details
of the complete 14000 series, including all parallel U.S. and
foreign issues. Includes historical introduction by Allan Sutton.
Available September 15 at a special introductory price
Mainspring Press Books
THE
VICTOR BLACK LABEL DISCOGRAPHY
Volume III: 20000 / 21000 Series
John R. Bolig
• Winner,
ARSC 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award
The
Victor 20000 and 21000-series issues have long been the subject
of myth-making and questionable research methods. Now John Bolig
strips away the guesswork and fabricated data to offer a revealing
look at exactly what is — and is not — contained
in the original Victor and Gramophone Co. documentation.
Available
October 15
|
CURRENT
TITLES
FREE SHIPPING on all books and CDs to U.S. & Canada
COMPLIMENTARY PRIORITY MAIL UPGRADE on orders of $99 or more (U.S.
addresses)
|
|
Latest
release
A
PHONOGRAPH IN EVERY HOME
The Evolution of the American Recording Industry, 1900–1919
By
Allan Sutton
The
new "prequel" to Recording
the 'Twenties, this volumes traces the development of
the American recording industry as the phonograph evolved from a parlor
toy into
a ubiquitous home-entertainment device.
Based
on an extensive study of rare primary-source materials — and richly
illustrated
with more than 100 rare ads and photos — A Phonograph in Every
Home offers a
detailed and carefully documented overview of the entire spectrum of
American recording
activity during the industry's formative years. |
Congratulations
to John Bolig, winner of the 2010 ARSC Lifetime Achievement Award!
Read
about John, his work, and the award on the Newsletter
page
THE
VICTOR DISCOGRAPHY SERIES
By John R. Bolig
“Significant
contributions to discographic research...invaluable to sound archives,
researchers, and serious collectors.”
— Notes (Journal of the Music Library Association)
“What
distinguishes this discography is that the information originates
entirely
from original sources. John Bolig continues to raise the
bar, setting new standards in discographical work.”
— The Record Collector (UK)
“Carefully
prepared work...The true enthusiast cannot manage without all
the resources mentioned here.” — ARSC Journal
|
|
|
| 
Browse the Subject Index
in Adobe Acrobat
|
RECORDING
THE 'TWENTIES
The Evolution of the American Recording Industry,
1920–1929
By Allan Sutton
“Most brilliantly original in its examination of commercial issues...a
book worth reading
and using.” — ARSC Journal
“Without
question the definitive account of the recording industry in the 1920s,
and
raises the bar for all future studies.” — Vintage Jazz
Mart |
|
2009
ARSC Certificate
of Merit
 |
THE
EDISON DISCOGRAPHY (1926–29)
Diamond
Discs, Needle Types, 20- and 40-Minute Records,
Sample Records, Experimentals, Radio Transcriptions,
and Special-Use Recordings
By Raymond
R. Wile
“Wile's reputation for methodical, painstaking research is continually
in evidence in this discography ... an important volume.” —
Notes (Journal of the Music Library Association)
“A fine reference
work not just for record collectors but also those interested in Edison,
popular culture, and musical taste in the 1920s.”— Book
News |
|
View
Sample Pages
in Adobe Acrobat |
EDISON
BLUE AMBEROL CYLINDERS — 2nd Edition
The Complete Blue Amberol Cylinderography:
U.S., Foreign and Special Issues,
1912–29
By Allan Sutton
The only comprehensive
cylinderography of Edison Blue Amberols. The original entries
have been thoroughly updated using material not accessible when the
original edition was compiled, and the book has been expanded to include
listings of foreign-catalog and
additional private and special-use issues.
You will find a
substantial amount of newly added information from the original Edison
company files and Edison National Historic Site databases — much
of it published here
for the first time — including personnel of backing groups, disc
takes used for dubbing,
and other details not found in the original edition. |
|
|
NOTE
THE NOTES
An Illustrated History of the
Columbia Record Label (1901–1958)
By Mike Sherman & Kurt Nauck
The classic guide
to American Columbia labels. Lavishly illustrated, this full-color booklet
covers Columbia record labels from the turn-of-the-century Toy Graphophone
through the
end of the 78-rpm era. Detailed text and more than 200 color photos
cover all Columbia
label variants, including subsidiary and client labels, private issues,
advertising records, transcriptions, and other rarities. |
|
Featured
on
"The History
Detectives" (PBS)
|
PARAMOUNT'S
RISE AND FALL
An Illustrated History of the Wisconsin Chair Company
and its Recording Activities
By Alex van der Tuuk
Paramount's
Rise and Fall examines the Paramount label and its legendary jazz
and
blues artists, the parent company's colorful history. Based on an extensive
study of rare primary sources, this remarkable book also features 120
illustrations, including previously unpublished photos and rare advertising
artwork.
“A
solid contextual narrative on which all future work should refer”
—
ARSC Journal
“Superbly
written and beautifully produced” — Vintage Jazz
Mart |
|
2007
ARSC Award
for Excellence
|
THE
PLAZA–ARC DISCOGRAPHY, Volume I
U.S. Issues, Mxs. 5001–11083 (1922–31)
By Billie W. Thomas & Allan Sutton
Foreword
by Randall Stehle
Covering Banner,
Conqueror, Domino, Jewel, Oriole, Regal, and their many associated
labels, The Plaza–ARC Discography is the only guide to these labels
to have been
compiled from firsthand examination of the actual records, correlated
with what remains
of the original company documentation. This remarkable volume is the
result of more than
five decades' research by the late Billie W. Thomas in association with
contributors to the legendary collectors' journal Record Research,
posthumously compiled and annotated
by Allan Sutton.
|
|
|
THE
AMERICAN STAGE PERFORMERS DISCOGRAPHY
Actors, Vaudevillians, and Musical Comedy Stars
(Volume I: 1891–1932)
By Allan Sutton
“Informative...
A major improvement over The Complete Entertainment Discography”
— ARSC Journal
Covering the recorded
works of more than 450 stars — from legitimate theater to
musical comedy, vaudeville, and burlesque — on the original 78s,
cylinders, and
synchronized soundtrack discs. An added feature are capsule biographies
detailing
each performer's career and stage and movie appearances, compiled from
the playbills, entertainment papers, reviews, and news reports of the
day. |
|
MAINSPRING PRESS CD-ROMs
For
Windows PCs (Mac OS-X compatible*) • Adobe Acrobat Reader required
|
|
Security
and Privacy Policies
|
ONLINE
ORDERS: We welcome Visa, Master Card, and PayPal worldwide.
MAIL ORDERS (U.S.): Visa, Master Card, PayPal,
and checks and money orders denominated in U.S. dollars and payable
at a U.S. bank are accepted for mail-orders.
We do not accept phone orders.
MAIL
ORDERS (OUTSIDE U.S.): Use Visa, Master Card, or PayPal
for immediate delivery. Checks or money orders received from outside
the U.S. are accepted but will delay shipment until payment is
fully cleared by the issuing bank. We cannot accept foreign currency.
SHIPPING:
Free to U.S. and Canadian addresses. Foreign prices include
First Class Air.
DEALERS
AND DISTRIBUTORS: See the Purchase
Order Page for current discounts and terms.
LIBRARY
ORDERS: We welcome purchase orders (60 days net) from
qualified institutions with verifiable ID and tax-exempt number.
Mainspring titles are also available from Blackwells, Baker &
Taylor, YBP, and other major library distributors. See the Purchase
Order Page for current terms.
CATALOG & ORDERING INFORMATION SPECIALS FREE
ONLINE ARTICLES AUTHOR
PROFILES
INFORMATION FOR DEALERS &
DISTRIBUTORS LIBRARY
PURCHASE ORDERS SITE
MAP
SECURITY & PRIVACY COMPANY
INFORMATION & CONTACTS E-MAIL
US
|
|
