MARK BERRESFORD RARE RECORDS
QUALITY AUCTIONS AND SET PRICE SALES OF VINTAGE JAZZ, BLUES, DANCE BAND, HISTORICAL & PERSONALITY 78 RPM RECORDS, GRAMOPHONES, PHONOGRAPHS AND RELATED EPHEMERA
SUMMER 2008 UPDATE
We're grateful to our VJM partner Russ Shor for this previously-unpublished photo of the Scrap Iron Jazzerinos, taken in France in late 1918 or early 1919. This pioneering group consisted of American doughboys serving in France, and they made some crude, but exciting sides for both Pathé in early 1919 and for The Gramophone Company in June 1919 in Paris. It has been suggested that they may have been part of the 158th US Infantry Band, but there is no evidence to substantiate this. However, we can present a little extra information, as the band members signed the reverse of the photograph. The card was presented to "Major Pearman" (can anyone trace his regiment? Maybe we can find out more about the band in the process) and the names and instruments ascribed are as follows (L-R):- Albert S. Angellotta, trombone; Syl C. Horn, banjo and violin; Edwin F. Dakin, violin; W. Russell Hanslaib, C-Melody saxophone; Clayton s. Thirkell, piano; Arshad K. Nushan, drums; Clarence W. Koch, trumpet. As author Mark Miller pointed out in his book "Some Hustling This! Taking Jazz To the World, 1914-1929 (Toronto: The Mercury Press, 2005) most, if not all the band members possessed a university education, either at Washington University, St. Louis, or Western Reserve University in Cleveland, and that they had been seconded to the British Army since mid-1917. The 3 balls are presumably a reference to a pawnbroker (the "Scrap Iron" reference). A number of researchers have laboured over the meaning of " Dot's Vee" on the bass drum (in the French HMV catalogue photo it looks like "Doy's Vee" but it is clear that it is not) and I would propose that it is "Mock German" for "That's We" or "That's Us."
Welcome to our website! Here you'll find masses of quality Jazz, Blues, Personality and Rare Label 78s plus associated ephemera such as books, sheet music, photographs etc. We also keep an extensive stock of the critically acclaimed Timeless range of jazz and hit dance band reissues - more details on the CDs by Mail link above.
We are based in the World Heritage status Derwent Valley in the beautiful English county of Derbyshire, surrounded by magnificent scenery, historic country houses, great walks, delightful market towns and some of the oldest and most significant Industrial Archaeology in the world! We're conveniently located about 20 minutes from junctions 25, 26 or 28 of the M1 motorway, 30 minutes from Nottingham East Midlands Airport and a 1 hour 40 minute train ride from London. We welcome visitors by appointment to browse through our 20000+ 78's of all types, but primarily Jazz, Blues, Dance Bands, Original Cast Theatre and Personality records. We also carry a substantial selection of books and discographies as well as printed ephemera and even phonographs and gramophones! With so much to see and do why not bring the family for a weekend and make time for a call here? We can even arrange accommodation in a number of historical 18th century stone cottages!
Flying visit to Derbyshire? No time to trawl through 1000s of 78s? Why not call to see our constantly-changing stock of Records, Gramophones, Phonographs, Books and Antiques at the Matlock Antique Centre, Dale Road, Matlock.
We've been selling records for nearly 35 years and over that time have built a reputation for fair-dealing and honesty, not least in our grading and packing! Every item we sell is guaranteed to be as graded or your money back - no quibbles!
We are always interested in buying quality 78 rpm record collections (especially pre-1935 78 rpm Jazz and Blues collections) and associated books and ephemera.
We are happy to sell small quantities of medium to high-value 78s on a consignment basis at very competitive commission rates - please enquire for details.
We can also provide accurate and authoritative valuations of collections for estate, probate, tax or insurance requirements - email us for details (NB: a fee is charged for this service).
PLEASE NOTE: WE DO NOT VALUE INDIVIDUAL RECORDS!
Copyright Mark Berresford 2008