William Lynd's Diary

The diary is a printed pocket daily diary for the year 1899, and is filled in as a daily account of Mr Lynd's activities, but is especially full of information about his record-making activities, describing the machines with which he was supplied, the rates at which he made records and wax cylinders, and his tours demonstrating the invention in England and Ireland.

William Lynd appears to have been born on 2 July 1844, as the 2 July in his diary is marked 'Birthday. Cinquanto cinq ans'. From the earliest he seems to have been an avid supporter of the phonograph, writing Edison and the perfected monograph, with a portrait of the illustrious American inventor (2nd ed, 1890?). It complimented his interest in music and spoken word recordings. In 1897 he published A popular account of ancient musical instruments : and their development, as illustrated by typical examples in the Galpin Collection at Hatfield Broad Oak, Essex. From the internal evidence of his diary, in 1899 he was creating records for Edison Bell in some quantities. Undated titles of wax cylinder recordings he made for Edison are noted in the discography of the Edison Bell Co. With his wife Ethel he recorded 5852 'A Lover's Quarrel' (Ethel was also a recording artiste in her own name). None of these are extant in the National Sound Archive. Lynd also toured with his phonograph, demonstrating it widely in 1899 in England and Ireland. His home address in 1899 was 138 Victoria Street, Kilburn.

Usual EUL arrangements apply

The diary was presented by a private donor.

Usual EUL arrangements apply