Comment by thereallyniceman on June 15, 2023 at 10:16

We all know that Fred was the "Master", well he was to me ;-)

...BUT in the comments section of this video someone made a comment that confused me as I had never heard of Edna White. Does anyone know of her?? 

Quote:

He was on wax cylinders of 1899 and here he is in great fidelity in the 1950s. only surpassed by Edna white who made Edison cylinders at the beginning of her career and at the end of her life a small cd release for friends and family quite a feat! this said non of Edna's CDs seem to be available for the public if you have one please post to youtube!

The only Edna White I can find played the trumpet.  Was there an EW who played banjo or is it a reference to quality of her cylinders???

Comment by Joel Hooks on June 15, 2023 at 11:35

Perhaps the connection is not with banjo but rather recording itself?

Comment by thereallyniceman on June 15, 2023 at 12:52

Yes Joel I am sure that you are correct..perhaps I should read things twice before I comment! Still, it gave an opportunity to post Fred's 1950s album again for those who have not heard it.

Comment by Jody Stecher on June 15, 2023 at 13:27

I can find no trace of a banjoist named Edna White.  Perhaps the comment is meant to compare the the recording careers of banjo player and a trumpet player both of whom  started their careers in the cylinder era and went on to make recordings on each new recording medium. I think "surpassed" might refer to Edna White having released a CD recording something that Van Eps didn't do.  Of course his analog recordings have been several times released on CD and it could well be that the Edna White recordings were simply digital transfers from her earlier analog recordings. 

Comment by Joel Hooks on June 15, 2023 at 15:55

But did Edna make her own trumpets (and also sold trumpets she made to others)?

Comment by Joel Hooks on June 15, 2023 at 15:56

Oh... and did Edna maker some of her own recording equipment (and also sell recording equipment to others)?

Comment by Jody Stecher on June 15, 2023 at 16:21

Edna designed flush valve trumpets with 2 round holes in the sides of the trumpet bell.  Van Eps had only one hole in the banjo vellum. She surpassed him.

Comment by thereallyniceman on June 15, 2023 at 16:54

This is why I love this site... it's full of knowledgeable people!

Two holes in the trumpet bell... well, who would have thought of that apart from Edna.

:-)

Comment by Trapdoor2 on June 15, 2023 at 19:12

Two different Edna Whites. Edna White the trumpeter and Edna White the wife of H.N. White, maker of "King" brass instruments.

Comment by Jody Stecher on June 15, 2023 at 22:51

The other one had 3 holes in the trumpet bell?

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