Wire Recorder Project

This web site describes how recordings made on steel wire by my Grandfather from about 1949 were recovered to be enjoyed again by his descendants.

Here is the complete, unedited archive of all the wires, in MP3 format. These are now listed on the UK Sound Directory created by the British Library, in an attempt to capture and preserve the nation's sound recordings before the media on which they are recorded becomes completely obsolete.

wire2_nobby.mp3	Wire 2 Approx 1949 or 1950 Great grandparents singing? Uncle Norman (approx 6 yrs old) "Nobby was a Ninepin" Cousin Colin (?) Shakespeare Joke told by great grandfather (ending missing) grandfather playing piano grandfather playing very early version of his electric organ (brief) 'Cricket lovely cricket' probably recorded from the radio (1950?) More music from radio
wire3_verypoor.mp3	Wire 3 Very poor quality sound Family performances and banter Mum & her Mum, maybe Uncle Norman 'My baby has gone down the plug'ole' Music (from radio?)
wire4_musicandkids.mp3	Wire 4 Mostly recorded music, probably radio broadcasts Older broadcast audible in background Some whistling songs At 10:43: Mum as a little girl with Norman & Janis as toddlers - song ("the thing") At 14:58: same song ("the thing") recorded from the radio
wire6a_family_songs_jokes.mp3	Wire 6a Great Grandparents and grandparents - songs and jokes (rude!) Speedup: 5% (see 6b)
wire6b_radio_songs.mp3	Wire 6b Radio recordings 'Busy Line' (Rose Murphy?) Banjo music
wire6c_norman_teen_friends.mp3	Wire 6c Uncle Norman and teen friends - messing about (late '50s) Singing, playing guitars, and impersonating their teacher
wire7_grandad_piano_radio.mp3	Wire 7 02:35 - 11:40: Female relative (or family friend) playing classical piano Includes Piano duet (Moszkowski. Spanish Dances) Radio broadcasts - billy cotton (announcement at 22:53)
wire8_grandad_jazz_and_radio.mp3	Wire 8 Recorded music from radio 06:00 - 17:35: Grandad playing jazz piano "I've never been in love before"
wire9_1960_family_message.mp3	Wire 9 1960, Family Birthday (Mum's Mum?) Voices of Mum's parents + Norman + Colin + Frank + Ivy + Ben & Dorothy Family singing 06:48: Messages to my Mum & Dad from the family in London 08:00: music recorded from radio
wire10_mum_norman_etc_songs_radio.mp3	Wire 10 Recorded music 02:25 and 09:55: Young girls singing (mum and friends?) 11:20: Grandad piano, norman (young) singing, and 15:49: Early version of grandad's electronic organ 22:00 young girl singing solo (friend of mum?) and duet
wire11_norman_and_pals_bad_quality.mp3	Wire 11 Uncle Norman + pals - blues, piano, guitars and vocal Very poor quality recording
wire12_piano_and_early_organ.mp3	Wire 12 Improvised jazz piano and home-made electronic organ Pianist is probably one of Uncle Norman's friends 05:45: music recorded, probaby from radio (Lulu's back in town) 06:40 "and now I'd like to play the national anthem the right way"
wire13a_mum_kay_norman_early_plus_radio.mp3	Wire 13a Mum & her friend, Kay, as teenagers - singing in harmony Fairly poor quality 09:05: Uncle Norman ~6 years old - extended 'nobby is a ninepin'
wire13b_radio_comedian_nanny_sings.mp3	Wire 13b Radio broadcast 02:54: unknown family member or friend reading a poem 03:58: radio comedian, Ken Platt, probably Worker's Playtime 11:55: Grandmother, solo singing, get the giggles (young Norman too)
wire14_recorded_music_grandad_young_norman.mp3	Wire 14 Recorded music 11:49: Grandad playing piano 14:25 Uncle Norman (young) - 'recital' with giggles
wire15_radio_family_singing.mp3	Wire 15 Radio program, "in the mood" produced by Donald MacLean, 1952 or 1953. 03:06: Ragtime/boogie piano (from a record) 10:35: Mum, Norman, Grandad, Nanny songs, piano, guitar, banjo, harmonica
wire16_later_norman_pete_and_pals.mp3	Wire 16 More recent recording Norman, Pete & pals piano, guitar, clarinet, trumpet 10:20 Amazing harmonica duet
wire17a_record.mp3	Wire 17a Recordings of various tracks from records
wire17b_record_poor.mp3	Wire 17b More record tracks Bad quality - badly wound on spool
wire17c_family_sing_poor.mp3	Wire 17c Family singing Grandad playing piano and his home-made electronic organ Poor quality
wire18_1951_digger_joan_kids_radio.mp3	Wire 18 Mum's Uncle Digger & Joan & kids (Lindy & Catherine), singing. 09:35: 1951 christmas message Some radio recordings (poor quality)
wire20_norman_pals_band_guitars.mp3	Wire 20 Uncle Norman's band - including brass section Uncle Norman & pal on guitars (electric?)
wire21_norman_pete_etc_piano_guitars_harmonica.mp3	Wire 21 Uncle Norman & pals - guitars, piano Norman's friend, Pete, harmonica + two guitars Guitar 'backing tracks' - electric
wire22_ann21st.mp3	Wire 22 Grandad - piano and home-made electronic organ Mum's 21st Birthday, 1957 17:15: family friend recites "the Lion and Albert"