An nameless reader writes "The NY Times lately ran a story on the ascertainment of a cache of wax pipe records, recorded laughter in Europe in the 1880s, of Otto von Bismarck, Helmuth von Moltke, and various musicians. 'In June 1889, Edison sent Wangemann to Europe, initially to ensure that the phonograph at the Paris World’s Fair remained in working order. After Paris, Wangemann toured his native Germany, recording musical artists and often card the homes of distinguished members of society who were fascinated with the talking machine. Until now, the only attainable recording from Wangemann’s provencal trip has been a name and well-worn laser disk of Brahms playing an excerpt from his first Hungarian Dance. That recording is so damaged "that many listeners can scarcely discern the sound of a piano, which has in turn tarnished the reputations of both Wangemann and the Edison phonograph of the late 1880s," Dr. Feaster said. "These newly unearthed examples vindicate both."'"

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

More: - The rest...