Unusual Van Eps disc...

[Russ Chandler]

Currently being laid low with Covid I have just about enough brain to get round to cataloguing some of my 78's and I've come across something curious.

It seems to be an unlabelled Fred Van Eps of Dell Oro b\w Ragtime Oriole and was Issued by TH Edwards of 119 Forest Rise in Walthamstow, London.

Does anyone know anything about it?

Could it have been from a club or an unofficial importer?

[Joel Hooks]

In 1951 or 1952 (I can't remember) Van Eps put out a DIY set of recordings with his son.  This looks to be from the box set of records but issued in London.

[thereallyniceman]

Get better soon Russ!!

Yep, Early 1950's release as on our "Original Recordings" page, search under Van Eps... you can find five parts of an interview with Van Eps and all the other music tracks too.

[Russ Chandler]

The simple expedient of looking it up in Heier and Lotz solves the mystery.

I'm clearly a bit foggy headed to have not done that first.

[John Cohen]

I own the masters of these recordings, but I've been unable to ascertain who (if anyone) owns the rights to them. One day I hope to have a new batch of pressings made. 

[Russ Chandler]

Wow! I hope you can make that happen!

John Cohen said:

I own the masters of these recordings, but I've been unable to ascertain who (if anyone) owns the rights to them. One day I hope to have a new batch of pressings made. 

[Pat Doyle]

An original master tape of the six well known 1950 recordings was created by Fred Van Eps, assisted by recording engineer Stan Higgins, after selecting them from a series of 'out-takes' and tapes, which included other titles for later issue.
A duplicate tape of the six recordings was sent by FVE to Tom Edwards to enable him to have a set pressed in the UK.
I purchased the original master, with other original masters for future issue, from George Van Eps. The duplicate tape was returned to the USA together with his Van Eps banjo following Tom's death. I also purchased these from their owner.
Kind regards
Pat Doyle

[John Cohen]

Hi Pat,

I should have been more specific. I own the complete set of master metal stampers that were used to press the albums. They're in fantastic condition and could be used one day to make new pressings.

Regards,
John