1919 RARE Victor Special Record NAVAL AIRCRAFT FACTORY World War 1 Navy Airplane
$
32
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Description
"The world is aflame with radical,
revolutionary socialism": Extremely scarce 1919 Victor
"special record" discussing naval airplane production
"during the Great War"
Rare and possibly unique single-sided 10-inch 78 r.p.m. Victor "Special Record" ("For Private Use Only"), with printed white label, titled "An Address by Commander F. G. Coburn, Construction Corps, U.S. Navy, March 7, 1919." A few typical superficial scuffs and minor scratches (just a few unobtrusive clicks during play), otherwise fine condition, with no cracks or chips. (Note: As I am not a record specialist, please ask any questions regarding condition or grading prior to bidding; I will be happy to provide whatever information I can.) A very rare spoken-word document of naval aircraft production during World War I. The speaker begins by noting that the record "is made on invitation of the Victor Talking Machine Company, with whose offices I have had many delightful dealings during the Great War in connection with the work done by the Naval Aircraft Factory, of which I am the manager...." Coburn goes on to detail the history of the factory and his employment there, explaining that its main production was a "seaplane ... a large twin-engined flying boat of the kind used by submarine patrols in the North Sea," and that the factory "delivered 180 by the time of the Armistice." He discusses the reorganization of the factory for peacetime production and then goes on in a more overtly political, philosophical vein, reflecting on the aftermath of the war: "President Wilson is now on the sea on his second trip to the Peace Conference.... The world is aflame with radical, revolutionary socialism." He ends on an optimistic note in looking forward to postwar America, hoping that "our children will play real men's parts in the world."
The Naval Aircraft Factory (NAF) was established at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in 1918 and continued producing aircraft until 1945.
Evidently unrecorded, and very possibly the sole surviving copy. Given the nature of the recording, it is more than likely that the number of copies pressed was extremely small; I was unable to locate a single reference to the existence of this recording in any source.
PAYMENT/SHIPPING: Successful U.S. bidder pays for extra-carefully packed shipping and insurance (international bidders: inquire for rates); PayPal. I will gladly combine shipping for items purchased in the same calendar week (i.e., Sunday to Saturday). Please see my other auctions for rare and vintage books, historical and advertising ephemera, photos, artwork, and mid-century design.
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