16″ Lacquer Presto Cut Records from the 1940’s

Earlier this month, I picked up some 16″ transcription records that were at a local estate sale for a gentleman named Joe. Joe was in the Navy, trained on aircraft electronics (radar was his thing), repaired radios, mechanical calculators, TVs, and was essentially one of those guys that could fix or build most anything. Joe acquired years ago, in the mid/late 60’s, thousands of military and radio transcription records from KVWC in Vernon, TX. Along the way, he picked up two broadcast turntables; a 1950 Proctor Soundex (from a local radio station) and a 1938 RCA Model 70-B that was used at the USO in Wichita Falls, TX.

1938 RCA Model 70-B
1950 Proctor Soundex
USO Club at the Freears Bldg. – Lamar Avenue U.S.O., Wichita Falls, TX

I spoke with his sons and they told me about when their Dad drove an hour to Vernon, TX to pull these records out of a transmitter shack near the base of the KVWC AM radio tower in the mid/late 60s.

1930’s era AM Radio Towers – not Vernon, TX

One said he vividly remembers opening the door of this tin shack, seeing many piles of records and black widow spiders. He and his father swept off the spiders and webbing and loaded up their 60’s Plymouth Valiant Station Wagon. I imagine that thing was on its axles on the way home as my truck nearly was when I drove back with them.

KVWC AM Vernon, TX – Postcard from 1946 – Stanley Hurst a regular on KVWC from 1946-’48

The transcription records have material as early as 1940 and runs through the late 60s. The station had been shoving them in the shack in Vernon for years rather than throwing out dated/aired programs.

Six months had passed since I picked up the turntables and initial round of transcription records. I didn’t think any more would be found. When I heard there was an estate sale scheduled, I was surprised to hear they found more. I arrived early and worked out a deal on the remaining 16″ records.

16″ Armed Forces Radio Service Transcription Record

Within these, along with many War Dept & Armed Forces Radio Service Records, 40’s radio programs & local KWFT spots (City National Bank & Grand Ole Opry at Memorial, etc.), four unmarked Presto Cut 16″ lacquer records were found.

16″ Presto Cut lacquer steel record

Lacquer records are unique in that a lacquer coated steel platter is the substrate for the music, rather than a stamped pressing like most records are in general. So the lacquer coating is cut into on the spot unlike vinyl where it is stamped with grooves at a pressing plant from a stamper. As a friend put it, “it’s sort of the Polaroid of records”. For radio stations or studios, they used this method to record programming material instantaneously, as well as make demos for musicians. Famously, Elvis recorded his first songs in 1953 on an acetate/lacquer disc at Sun Studios.

The Presto 6N was the most popular of the PRESTO line because of its price. It was installed in more radio stations and used by more independent music producers than any other recorder.

KWFT station & Wichita Falls, TX in general was a regular stop for many western swing musicians, hillbilly & early rockabilly groups, back in the 40s and early 50s. The station broadcast on 620AM at 5,000 watts during the day (1K watts at night) and could be heard as far as El Paso, TX.

KWFT Photos & Clippings courtesy of local DJ legend Joe Martin aka “Mad Martin”.

The four unlabeled 16″ Presto Cut records were found in a box along with KWFT acetate records. I consulted some folks on a couple large Western Swing & Transcription Records forums and I had a few answers come back. Eddie Arnold, or someone that was a good Gene Autry impersonator, or Curly Perrin. Also, Sellers Studios was mentioned being the possible origin of the records. There were labeled Sellers Studios records within the box of lacquer/acetates with shows of the “Sons Of The Saddle”, which aired on KWFT for a few years from 1941-’44.

Sons Of The Saddle – 16″ Transcription Record from the early-mid 1940s from Sellers Studios in Dallas, TX

The Sellers Inc. transcription records played from the inside-out and were created with Audiodisc acetates whereas the other unlabeled Presto Cut branded lacquer records all play from the outside-in. Even though they are different, it’s possible these recordings came from Sellers Studios. They may have changed products, upgraded studio equipment or cutting methods between 1944 and 1946. Sellers was around far before anything would have been digitized and the paper trail they may have had somewhere in Dallas, TX detailing studio activities isn’t published anywhere (if anyone knows, please leave a comment).

Apparently, there was about a dozen sidemen used by Sellers during the 40’s to record content for stations along with Curly Perrin, including (but not limited to) Alfredo “Freddie” Casares or Gar Austin on fiddle, Kermit Whalin or Paul Blunt on steel, Red Gilliam on accordion, Julian Akins, Jake Wright and Jim Boyd, guitars. A variety of artists from that era who were regional or really talented local musicians.

William “Curly” Perrin, aka The Texas Songbird or Horace the Songbird, played with W. Lee O’Daniel & His Hillbilly Boys, Bill Boyd and His Cowboy Ramblers, Ross Rhythm Rascals, The Lightcrust Doughboys and cut records as Curley Perrin and His Boys. He was known to be a hard drinker early on and gigged/worked extensively throughout the 30’s and 40’s. Later, he transitioned to evangelistic music with the Baptist church in the 50’s.

I searched the Wichita Falls Record News archives in the 1940s and Curly or Curley Perrin was aired for a total of 10x, 15 minutes each show, in Nov/Dec of 1946 on KWFT 620AM.

Curley Perrin was first aired on KWFT 620AM between 12:01-12:15 on November 18, 1946

These recordings were made in the mid 40s and are a great musical imprint of what was going on in the area. To my knowledge, other than maybe some limited play in a garage in the late 60’s, these haven’t been spun since these were aired in 1946.

Thanks to the efforts of Joe and his foresight to not get rid of these transcription records, no matter how smelly they were from plasticizer break down, this music can now be enjoyed.

I’ve cleaned them up and started to listen and did a quick digital rip to MP3. There is some REALLY GOOD music on these.

I’ve digitized some, links in YouTube below.

Thanks for taking the time to listen and I hope you enjoy these!

-Justin

Info on how to CLEAN ACETATE RECORDS & CLEANING LACQUER DISCS

PS – I’m always looking for 78rpm records or any older records. Stuff from the 1900s-1960s. If you have some 78s you aren’t enjoying, inherited some or just have a stack or two in the garage somewhere, please email me: antique78rpm@gmail.com or call: 940.276.1410

That music deserves to be listened to and enjoyed!


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