"The Goon Show": original 1950s radio transcription disc. Poss missing episode?

	£		82
	$		109

The Goon Show on 16” transcription disc

Episode 20, part 1.  Series ?

b/w Jim Reeves at the Grand Ole Opry!

Transcription discs were used by radio stations to make in-house recordings of broadcast programmes. Radio stations might do this in order to archive the programme, or to re-transmit it at a later date, or to syndicate it to other radio stations.  I am currently in the process of selling a very large collection of transcription discs, largely of country music shows from the 1950s.  These shows were recorded in radio studios like WSM in Nashville for use by stations broadcasting on US Forces networks overseas.  

Transcription discs are larger than regular LPs, usually 16 inches in diameter.  They play at 33 rpm.  For professional use, they are played on a deck made for the purpose.  Such decks do turn up on eBay.  The discs will also play on regular record decks if there is enough space around the edge of the turntable.  If not it is sometimes possible to adapt a regular deck to make enough room.  By their very nature, transcription discs are rare.  Only a few of each programme were needed and they were often discarded after use.

This disc contains Part 1 of episode 20 of the Goon Show but the label does not tell us which series.  As I don’t have a transcription disc player, I can’t tell you either!  As Goon Show collectors will know, a significant number of early recordings of the programme are missing (i.e. even the BBC does not have copies)  This could easily be one of those episodes but someone needs to play it to find out.  On the other side of the disc is a recording of the country music radio show, The Grand Ole Opry, featuring Jim Reeves.  There’s an incongruity there that Spike Milligan might have appreciated.

This disc is not dated but all the discs in the collection that are dated, are from the mid-1950s.  I’m sure the same applies to this one.  The disc is in nice, clean undamaged condition on both sides.  Please note that it may contain only half of this episode of the Goon Show (I presume that is what Part 1 means).  Confusingly, the label gives the timing as 30 minutes, which I think would be the whole show, but the timing etched in the run out grooves is given as 14 mins 15 seconds - so it’s a gamble I’m afraid.

Postage and packing within the UK will be £7.00.  Postage charges to international destinations are given below.  These are maximum charges.  If it costs less than this to your country, I will refund the difference after posting.

I have another Goons transcription disc listed on eBay at the moment.  Click here to see it.

I hope this description has given you enough to go on but should you require any further information, or more images, please do e-mail.  I am happy to post to anywhere in the world.  There is no reserve beyond the minimum bid.  Thanks for your interest in this auction and good luck if you decide to bid.

Please also visit my About Me page to read more about the fish that flew.

Please note:

I will not respond to requests to close the auction early regardless of the value of the offer made, nor  will I respond to requests to change the listing to “Buy It Now” for the benefit of an individual buyer.  To do either of these things is contrary to both the principle and spirit of an auction – and unfair to other eBayers.

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