Recording Pioneers


William Sinkler DARBY  1878 - 1950   arrowarrow PIONEER    PARENTS    LIFE    NOTES    LABELS    PHOTOS    THANK YOU

PIONEERRESPOND

William Sinkler DARBY  1878 - 1950

aka William S. Darby, William Darby, W. S. Darby, W. Sinkler Darby, Sinkler Darby, W. Darby, S. Darby
nationality
occupation
birth 8 Oct 1878, Fort Motte, Amelia Township, Orangeburg, South Carolina
baptism
death 15 Dec 1950 Baltimore, MD.
burial Druid Ridge Cemetery, 7900 Park Heights Ave., Pikesville, MD 21208 (00. 1. 410. 486 5300)
marriage married on 24 November 1910, Wimbledon, Kingston, ENGLAND:
Marcelle Minna Olga ("Marietta") ROBERTS

b. 3 Oct. 1888, Shortlands, Kent, ENGLAND
d. 17 Dec 1969, Kensington, London, ENGLAND

children
  • John Sinkler

    b. 19 Aug 1912, 57 Murray Road, Wimbledon, London, ENGLAND
    d. 8 Feb 1931, Clinique Florimont, Territet, Vaud, SWITZERLAND from sudden heart failure due to double pneumonia, as certified to by Dr. P. Vuilleumier of Montreux.

Burial: Troches Cemetery, Territet, SWITZERLAND)
  • Kathleen Merion

    b. 13 Oct 1914, 57 Murray Road, Wimbledon, London, ENGLAND
    d. .. July 1998, Wokingham, Berkshire, ENGLAND

  • Robert ("Bob") Sinkler

    b. 3 March 1919, 29 Corfton Road, Ealing, London, ENGLAND
    d. .. April 1997, ........, Mendip, Somerset, ENGLAND



PARENTS

father Henry Sinkler DARBY

b. Dec 1849 or Jan 1850, Pond Bluff Plantation, Orangeburg County, South Carolina, USA
d. 10 Jan 1904, Washington DC) clerk in store

mother Mary Eleanor/Ellen HILLIARD

b. 15 Nov 1838, Hagerstown, Washington, MD
d. .......... (after 1912 = in view of 1912 Passport Application of Mary Ellen DARBY

remark (source: The Fred Gaisberg Diaries - Part 6 in: The Talking Machine Review No. 62, 1980, p. 1686)
children
  • Wiliam Sinkler Darby

    b. 8 Oct 1878, Fort Motte, Amelia Township, Orangeburg, South Carolina, USA
    d. 15 Dec 1950, Baltimore, Maryland, USA



LIFE




1840 CENSUS (no date; St. Matthew Parish, Orangeburg, South Carolina):
Dr. A. T. DARBY
4 males under 5
1 male between 30-40
2 females 20-30
1 female 60-70



1850 CENSUS (15 Nov 1850, between Santee and Edisto North of Belville Road, Orangeburg, SC):
Artemus T. [Thomson] DARBY (44y; b. <1806>) planter
Margaret G./C. [Thomson] (30y)
- John (15y)
- William (14y)
- Charles (13y)
- Elliott (11y)
- Francis (6y)
- Jefferson (4y)
- Burnham (3y)
- Henry (11m)



1860 CENSUS:
............



In all Artemus and Margaret Darby had 13 children.
By the time of the 1870 CENSUS all Henry's older brothers had apparently left home.


1870 CENSUS (15 July 1870, Pine Grove, Orangeburg, SC):
Artemus T. [Thomson] DARBY (64y; b. <1806>) physician
Margaret G./C. [Thomson] (51y)
- Henry S. (= Sinkler) (21y)
- Mary A. (19y)
- Eliza E. (18y)
- Margaret C. (10y)
- Harriett L. (8y)
- Artemus T. (12y)



1880 CENSUS (10 June 1880, Fort Motte Amelia Township, Orangeburg, SC, USA):
Henry (30y) clerk in store
Mary (38y)
- Sinkler (2y)



recorder The Gramophone Company (identifying letters: A; B/g x/h y/i(j))

Joined BRUNSWICK in 1924.

W. Sinkler Darby was from 1895 to 1899 assistant to Mr. Emile Berliner. Thereafter he was engaged for over 20 years in the Recording and Research Department of the Gramophone Co., Ltd. (His Master’s Voice), and subsequently as Technical Manager of the Recording and Research Department of the American Brunswick Company.


1897: Wm. Sinkler Darby of South Carolina was graduated with the degree of bachelor of accounts in business course. (The Evening Star, Washington, DC., 3 June 1897, p. 1)


7 Mar 1899: Mr. William Sinkler Darby of this city [Washington] has gone to Philadelphia to accept a position with the Gramophone Company. (The Evening Star, Washington, DC., 7 Mar 1899, p. 1)



W. S. DARBY
SS "KAISER WILHELM DER GROSSE"
dep. New York: Tuesday 14 March 1899 (he was seen off by Joe SANDERS)
arr. Cherbourg: Monday 20 March 1899
Darby immediately travelled on to Germany:
arr. Southampton: 20 March 1899
arr. Bremen, GERMANY: Tuesday 21 March 1899 or Wednesday 22 March 1899
Kurt HEINECKE came to meet Darby at the boat in Bremen harbour.




Mr. Hector Stewart (St. John’s Wood, London) found, in a frame, a copper master containing the voices of Fred Gaisberg and Sinkler Darby, recording messages from Paris for their families back home in America. Fred Gaisberg mentions with commendable exactitude that they were recording in Milan up to July 13th, 1899 (and as if to bear him out, along came a Berliner by the Banda Municipale di Milano, made on July 8th); that they were planning to stay in Paris until August 7th, then moving on to Madrid. They wind up the record by singing an hilarious fragment of There 'll Be A Hot Time In The Old Town Tonight. By September 30th, however, they were recording in Cardiff, and no fewer than three copies of the "Soldiers' Chorus" from Faust, sung by the Rhondda Male Voice Choir have been reported! (Rust Brian, “Collector’s Corner”, The Gramophone, May 1973, p. 2032.)


In March, 1900 Sinkler Darby was back in St Petersburg, this time with Gaisberg. It was clear that the Russian agents had done little to recruit artists for recording so that the first few days were rather wasted with lesser artists. Gaisberg and Sinkler Darby had to try recruiting for themselves; they managed to persuade the noted baritone Oscar Kamionsky to record. This was quite a success and obviously the gramophone was at last making some headway in the realms of Russian opera.
(p. 9)
Gaisberg and Sinkler Darby had negotiated in March 1900 with Chaliapin and Sobinov - but at that time these stars were unattainable. Next month in Warsaw they had had more success with singers from the Opera, for instance the soprano Kawecka and the young bass Didur. But these records were made by the etched-zinc process and so suffered somewhat from constricted sound.
(p. 10)
(from: Symposium 1058 (Audio CD). Emile Berliner’s Gramophone – the earliest discs 1888-1901)


26 Mar 1900:
Mr. Fred. W. Gaisberg and Wm. Sinkler Darby of this city [Washington], who are travelling through Europe, are stopping at the Grand Hotel d’ Europe in St. Petersburg, Russia. From there they will go to Moscow and Warsaw. (The Evening Star, Washington, DC., 26 Mar 1900, p. 1)


During March-April 1900 Fred Gaisberg and Sinkler Darby had taken new records, made by the old zinc-etched process, in St. Petersburg and Wrsaw. Amongst the Russian recordings were pieces by Oscar Kamionsky and Radina, whilst Warsaw gave us records by Adam Didur and Wiktorya Kawecke. (Petts Leonard, “Russian Recordings and the First Red Label Celebrity Records 1900-1901”, Hillandale News, No. 165, December 1988, p. 118)


12 May 1900:
Mr. W. Sinkler Darby of this city [Washington], who has been in Russia for the last seven weeks, is now in Vienna. In three weeks he leaves for Bucharest, and from there he goes to Constantinople. (The Evening Star, Washington, DC., 12 May 1900, p. 1)


3 Nov 1900:
Mr. William Sinkler Darby of this city [Washington], left London last month on a continental tour. He spent a week in Berlin before going to Barcelona, Spain. From there he goes to Lisbon, Madrid, Paris, Munchen, Dresden, Berlin, and back to London again. (The Evening Star, Washington, DC., 03 Nov 1900, p. 1)


22 June 1901:
Mr. William Sinkler Darby of this city [Washington], who has been travelling for the last month in the southern part of Germany, left Frankfort on his return to Berlin. From there he will go direct to St. Petersburg. (The Evening Star, Washington, DC., 22 Jun 1901, p. 1)


2 July 1901:
Mr. Wm. Sinkler Darby of this city [Washington}, returned yesterday from Europe for a three-weeks’ vacation and will be glad to see any friends at the residence of his father, 817 5th st. northwest. (The Evening Star, Washington, DC., 2 Jul 1901, p. 1)



W. S. DARBY
SS "........."
dep. New York: ..... 1901
arr. England: .. Aug 1901
11 Aug 1901 (Wednesday): Next morning I met Sinkler Darby, who had just returned from America. (source: The Fred Gaisberg Diaries - Part 6 (in: The Talking Machine Review No. 62, 1980, pp. 1686)
See also GAISBERG DIARIES page 100.


A new expedition to take recordings in St. Petersburg, Warsaw, Moscow, Baku and Tiflis was planned for the end of 1901. This time Sinkler Darby would carry out the work on his own between November 15th 1901 and January 15th 1902, the longest time so far allocated to any recording session in Russia, resulting in the taking of over 1.000 recordings. Amongst the artists recorded were Michailova, Serebriakov, and Morskoi. (Petts, Leonard: “Russian Recordings and the First Red Label Celebrity Records 1900-1901”, Hillandale News, No. 165, December 1988, p. 118)



W. S. DARBY, Gent.
+ Mr. W. B. Owen, Adult, Gent.
+ Miss Owen, Lady
+ Master P. Owen, Child
+ Master K. Owen, Child
SS “COMMONWEALTH”
Dep. 16 July 1903, Liverpool, ENGLAND
Arr. [22-23] July 1903, Boston, MA, USA


6 Aug 1903:
Mr. William Sinkler Darby of 130 C st. northeast, Stanton flats [Washington], has returned from a visit to Europe. (The Evening Star, Washington, DC., 6 Aug 1903, p. 1)



W. S. DARBY (26y)
SS "CYMRIC"
dep. .. Nov 1903, New York (& Boston?), USA:
arr. 25 Nov 1903, Queenstown (IRELAND) - Southampton (ENGLAND)


On 10 January 1904 Darby's father Henry Sinkler DARBY dies.
21 Jan 1904:
Mr. Sinkler Darby of this city [Washington], returned yesterday from Europe and expects to remain here about a week or ten days. (The Evening Star, Washington, DC., 21 Jan 1904, p. 1)

W. S. Darby
SS "..........."
dep.: .. Jan 1904, ........... (ENGLAND)
arr.: .. Feb 1904, .......... (USA)


9 Feb 1904:
Mr. W. Sinkler Darby of this city has sailed for Europe. (The Evening Star, Washington, DC., 09 Feb 1904, p. 1)


Then in March, 1904, at a third and last session in Europe, my colleague William S. Darby, recorded a song composed by Leoncavallo by special commission at a fee of £100. This was known as “Mattinata” and is now a standard concert number with tenors the world over. (Gaisberg, F. W., “Notes from my Diary. Enrico Caruso”, The Gramophone, Jan 1944, p. 119)



Sinclair DARBY (26y) recording expert
+ William Barry Owen, 44y
+ Mae M. Owen, 44y
SS "CRETIC"
dep. Liverpool, ENGLAND: 16 June 1904,
arr. Boston, MA, USA: 25 June 1904


Darby was in the USA from 25 June to 4 August 1904



"Mr. William Sinkler Darby sailed on 4 August for Europe on the "DEUTSCHLAND"." (Washington Post 7/8/1904)
Mr. W. S. Darby, 28y (sic) clerk
Nationality: American
SS "DEUTSCHLAND"
dep. New York, USA: 4 August 1904
arr. Plymouth, ENGLAND: 10 August 1904



W. S. Darby, 26y
SS “ST. LOUIS”
Dep. [6] Oct 1904, NY, USA
Arr. 12 Oct 1904, Southampton, ENGLAND


4 Apr 1905, Patented.
No. 786.347
W. S. Darby, Record for Sound Reproducing Machines
Application filled 12 Jan 1905.
It is accompanied by a 2 pages report.



W. S. DARBY
ethnicity: USA citizen
profession:
ship's name: SS "DEUTSCHLAND"
date of departure: 7 July 1905
port of departure: Dover, Kent, ENGLAND (UK)
date of arrival: 13 July 1905, New York, USA
age on arrival: -
"Mr. W. Sinkler Darby, of this city [Washington], arrived yesterday [in Washington] on the steamship "DEUTSCHLAND" on a short visit to 1139 Ninth Street Northwest." (Washington Post 15/7/1905)



"Mr. W. Sinkler Darby, of this city [Washington], sailed from New York last Tuesday (= 8 August 1905) on the "KAISER WILHELM DER GROSSE" for Europe." (Washington Post 13/8/1905)
arrival EUROPE <15> August 1905


23 Jan 1905, Patented, CANADA.
William Sinkler Darby, Record for Sound Reproducing Machines
Pub. No. CA95395A



William Sinkler DARBY
ethnicity: USA citizen
profession: Ingenieur
ship's name: SS "KAISERIN AUGUSTE VICTORIA"
date of departure: 29 Nov 1906
port of departure: Cuxhaven, Hamburg, GERMANY
date of arrival: 10 Dec 1906, New York, USA
age on arrival: 28y
"Mr. W. Sinkler Darby, of this city [Washington], has returned from Europe and is spending two weeks with his mother at Battery Park Hotel, Asheville, N.C." (Washington Post 22 Dec 1906)



Darby left USA on 7 January 1907 (source Passport application #52001, No. 57 (Paris, 23 June 1908))
Arrives back in EUROPE <14> January 1907


23 Jan 1905, Patented, CANADA.
William Sinkler Darby, Record for Sound Reproducing Machines
Pub. No. CA95395A


"Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Blythe and Mr. W. Sinkler Darby are Washingtonians recently registered at Paris." (The Washington Post, Washington, DC., 9 Oct 1907)


10 Feb 1908, Patented, UK.
William Sinkler Darby, An improved game apparatus
Pub. No. GB190802894A


10 Feb 1908, Patented, FRANCE
William Sinkler Darby, Jeu de salon
Pub. No. FR387223A


Certificate of Registration: 13 Sep 1909
Mary Eleanor Darby arrived in Berlin on July 10, 1909 when on Aug 5, 1910 she was still there for the purpose of visiting.
William Sinkler Darby was residing in Berlin, GERMANY on Aug 5, 1910.
Residence: Haberlandstr. 12, Berlin, GERMANY
Nearest relative in USA: Thomas Hilliard, Hagerstown, Maryland, USA


1911 ENGLAND CENSUS: 52 Hanover gate, Mansions Park Road, St. Marylebone, London, NW.
Sinkler Darby, 32y, Engineer, Mechanical Electrical and Experimental Work. Talking Machine Industry (Gramophone Co. Worker)
Marcelle Darby, 22y
Mary Darby (Sinkler’s Mother), 72y



William S. DARBY (34y)
SS "BALTIC"
21 Aug 1913, Liverpool, ENGLAND
30 Aug 1913, New York, USA
Born: Fort Motte, S. C., 8 Oct. 1878
Belvue Stratford, Phila[delphia], USA



William S. DARBY
ethnicity: USA citizen
profession: engineer
date of departure: .. Sep 1913
port of departure: New York, USA
ship's name: SS "LUSITANIA" (Cunard Line)
date of arrival: 30 Sep 1913, Liverpool, ENGLAND, UK (via Fishguard, Wales)
age on arrival: 35y
place of residence UK: 29, Corfton Road, Ealing, ENGLAND, UK

(The LUSITANIA was torpedoed in 1916)


1912 & 1914 from 1919 REPORT OF BIRTH: 29 Corfton Road, Ealing, London, W.5.
William Sinkler Darby, Electrical Engineer


1917-1918 WWI Draft Cards:
William Sinkler Darby, Engineer
Residence: 523 11th St., Washington, DC
Employment: The Gramophone Ltd., Hayes, Middlesex, ENGLAND



William Sinkler DARBY
ethnicity: USA citizen
profession: engineer
ship's name: SS "EMPRESS OF FRANCE"
date of departure: 16 Nov 1920
port of departure: Liverpool, England, UK
date of arrival: 24 Nov 1920, Quebec, CANADA
age on arrival: 42y
place of residence USA: New Willard Hotel, Washington DC, USA
Address in UK: 29 Corfton Road, Ealing, ENGLAND, UK


Applied for registration of Darbycord ('From the Darbycord Studios.') in November 1920.
Registered as trade mark in April 1921.



William S. DARBY
ethnicity: USA citizen
profession: engineer
ship's name: SS "EMPRESS OF FRANCE" (Canadian Pacific Line) (NOT SS "EMPRESS OF BRITAIN")
date of departure: .. May 1921
port of departure: Quebec, CANADA
date of arrival: 1 June 1921, Liverpool, ENGLAND, UK
age on arrival: 42y
place of residence UK: 29, Corfton Road, Ealing, ENGLAND, UK



William Sinkler Darby, 42y, Engineer
Ethnicity: American
Religion: Church of England
SS “EMPRESS OF BRITAIN”
Dep. 22 Jun 1921, Liverpool, ENGLAND
Arr. [28] Jun 1921, Quebec, CANADA
place of residence UK: 29, Corfton Road, Ealing, ENGLAND, UK
Address in CANADA: Ritz Carlton Hotel, Montreal, CANADA



William S Darby, 42y, Engineer
SS “EMPRESS OF FRANCE”
Dep. [25] Sep 1921, Quebec, CANADA
Arr. 1 Oct 1921, Liverpool, ENGLAND
place of residence UK: 29, Corfton Road, Ealing, ENGLAND, UK


29 Mar 1922:
"W. Sinkler Darby, a gramophone expert of 25 years’ experience, has set up a “studio” in the West End exclusively for the making of records for private customers. In a short time he has discovered that the idea is proving very popular… A baritone who had a record made by Mr. Darby recently, says that it has proved of more value to him than any number of lessons. It enabled him to discover where his breathing and enunciation were at fault. (“A family album that will talk. Voice Gramophone Records are Proving Very Popular in England” (in: The Expositor, Brantford, Ontario, CANADA, 29 Mar 1922, p. 13)



William Sinkler DARBY
+ Marcelle. M. O. DARBY (33y 6m)
ethnicity: USA citizen
profession:
ship's name: SS "AQUITANIA"
date of departure: 22 Apr 1922
port of departure: Southampton, Southamptonshire, ENGLAND, UK
date of arrival: 28 Apr 1922, New York, USA
age on arrival: 43y 6m
place of residence USA: Kensington, Maryland (MD), USA


Advertisement on page 28 of Reading 1922: A Return to the Scene of the Modern by Michael North:
“How I photograph your voice” a book by W. Sinkler Darby which explains the Darbycord method. (The Illustrated London News, 29 Apr 1922, p. 642)


Submitted trade mark Photovox (disc records) for registration in May 1922.



William S. Darby, 43y, Engineer
SS “AQUITANIA”
Dep. [31] Jul 1922, New York, USA
Arr. 6 Aug 1922, Southampton, ENGLAND
Address in UK: 29 Corfton Rd., Ealing, W.5.



William Sinkler DARBY
ethnicity: USA citizen
profession:
ship's name: SS "MAURETANIA"
date of departure: 26 Aug 1922
port of departure: Southampton, Southamptonshire, ENGLAND, UK
date of arrival: 2 Sept 1922, New York, USA
age on arrival: 43y 10m
place of residence USA: 170 West 74th St., NYC, NY, USA


In November 1922 registration of Photovox as a trade mark for disc records.


William S. DARBY
ethnicity: USA citizen
profession: engineer
date of departure: .. Dec 1922
port of departure: New York, USA
ship's name: SS "MAJESTIC" (White Star Line)
date of arrival: 22 Dec 1922, Southampton (via Cherbourg), ENGLAND, UK
age on arrival: 44y
place of residence UK: 29, Corfton Road, Ealing, ENGLAND, UK




William Sinkler DARBY
ethnicity: USA citizen
profession:
ship's name: SS "OLYMPIC"
date of departure: 31 Jan 1923
port of departure: Southampton, Southamptonshire, ENGLAND, UK
date of arrival: 7 Feb 1923
age on arrival: 44y
place of residence USA: Biltmore Hotel, New York City, NY, USA
now: Restaurant The Biltmore Room, 290 Eighth Avenue, Chelsea, New York
or: Madison Avenue & 43rd Street



William DARBY
ethnicity: USA citizen
profession: engineer
date of departure: .. Apr 1923
port of departure: New York, USA
ship's name: HMS "OLYMPIC" (White Star Line)
date of arrival: 5 May 1923, Southampton , ENGLAND, UK
age on arrival: 44y
place of residence UK: 29, Corfton Road, Ealing




W. Sinkler DARBY
+ Marcelle DARBY (34y)
+ John Sinkler DARBY (10y)
+ Kathleen DARBY (8y)
+ Robt. = Robert Sinkler DARBY (4y)
ethnicity: USA citizen
profession:
date of departure: 23 May 1923
port of departure: Southampton, Southamptonshire, ENGLAND, UK
ship's name: SS "MAJESTIC"
date of arrival: 29 May 1923
age on arrival: 44y
place of residence USA: 16, West 36th Street, New York City, NY, USA
plus marriage date (24 Nov. 1910) and birthdates/birthplaces of all children.


31 Jul 1923:
W. Sinkler Darby and W. G. Haenschen, musical director, arrived yesterday to install equipment for making records of dance music by A. Lyman’s Cocoanut Grove orchestra for national distribution. (“Plan Plant for Record-Making”, The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Cal., 31 Jul 1923, p. 3)


Aug 1923:
By August 1923, W. Sinkler Darby (the recording engineer who had joined Berliner in 1895 and had spent many years with the Gramophone Company) was now reported to be heading a recording expedition to California for the Brunswick business; they were soon to open a pressing plant in Los Angeles. (Andrews, Frank, “British Brunswick”, in: Hillandale News, No. 122, October 1981, p. 265)




[Mrs.] Sinkler DARBY housewife (35y)
+ John DARBY (11y)
+ Kathleen DARBY (9y)
+ Robert DARBY (5y)
ethnicity: USA citizen
profession:
ship's name: SS "MAJESTIC" (White Star Line)
date of departure: .. June 1924
port of departure: New York, USA
date & port of arrival: 28 June 1924, Southampton, Southamptonshire, ENGLAND, UK
age on arrival: 35y
place of residence UK: Martholme, Parkside, Wimbledon Common, London, ENGLAND, UK


Darby went to join BRUNSWICK in 1924.
See picture of Darby with wife and three children (On the MAJESTIC . Trip to New York with family. 1924)



William DARBY
ethnicity: USA citizen
profession: engineer
date of departure: .. July 1924
port of departure: New York, USA
ship's name: HMS "MAJESTIC" (White Star Line) (NOT: "PITTSBURGH")
date of arrival: 24 July 1924, Southampton , ENGLAND, UK
age on arrival: 45y
place of residence UK: 29, Corfton Road, Ealing, UK



W. Sinkler DARBY
+ Marcelle DARBY (35y)
+ John Sinkler DARBY (12y)
+ Kathleen DARBY (9y)
+ Robt. (= Robert) Sinkler DARBY (5y)
ethnicity: USA citizen
profession:
ship's name: SS "OLYMPIC"
date of departure: 3 Sept 1924
port of departure: Southampton, Southamptonshire, ENGLAND, UK
date of arrival: 9 Sept 1924
age on arrival: 45y
place of residence USA: 128 Corona Avenue, Pelham, New York City, NY, USA


1925 CENSUS:
Sinkler Darby, 42y, recording lab. Mgr. [recording laboratory Manager]
Marcelle Darby, 36y
Robert S. Darby, 6y
Kathleen Darby, 10y
John Darby, 12y
Residence: Pelham, Westchester



Marcelle DARBY (36y ; NOT 32y))
SS "MAJESTIC"
Dep.: .... 1925, ..........., USA
Arr.: 28 Aug 1925, Southampton, ENGLAND, UK




Marcelle DARBY (36y)
SS "OLYMPIC"
30 Sept 1925, Southampton
6 Oct 1925, NY
128 Corona Ave., Pelham, NY, USA



William S. DARBY (47y)
+ Marcelle DARBY (37y)
SS "AQUITANIA"
10 Febr 1926, Southampton
17 Febr 1926, New York
128 Corona Ave., Pelham, NY, USA



William DARBY (47y) engineer
SS "AQUITANIA"
.. March 1926, New York
26 March 1926, Southampton
Martholme, Parkside, Wimbledon, London, ENGLAND



William S. DARBY (47y) engineer
SS "AQUITANIA" (Cunard Line)
24 April 1926, Southampton, ENGLAND
30 April 1926, New York, USA
128 Corona Av., Pelham, New York, USA



William S. DARBY (47y) engineer
SS "MAJESTIC" (White Star Line)
.. June 1926, New York, USA
11 June 1926, Southampton, ENGLAND
Martholme, Parkside, Wimbledon, London, ENGLAND



William S. DARBY (47y) engineer
SS "AQUITANIA" (Cunard Line)
24 July 1926, Southampton
30 July 1926, New York
128 Corona Av., Pelham, New York




William DARBY engineer
+ Marcelle DARBY
ethnicity: USA citizen
profession: engineer
ship's name: HMS "AQUITANIA" (Cunard Line)
date of departure: .. Aug 1926
port of departure: New York, USA (via Cherbourg)
date of arrival: 31 Aug 1926, Southampton , ENGLAND, UK
age on arrival: 47y
place of residence UK: Martholme, Parkside, Wimbledon, London, ENGLAND


Newspaper clippings from British newspapers about a demonstration of the PANATROPE:

5 Oct 1926 (The Times): The Panatrope. New Electrical Instrument for reproducing Music.
5 Oct 1926 (The Daily Graphic): The Newest Magic
5 Oct 1926 (Westminster Gazette): The Panatrope. Invention that can be fitted to wireless.
5 Oct 1926 (Financial News): The "Panatrope." Latest Sound Reproducer
5 Oct 1926 (Daily Chronicle): Music Picked up by "Magnet". Electricity Replaces the Gramophone Sound-Box
5 Oct 1926 (Daily Mirror): The Panatrope
5 Oct 1926 (Daily News): The Panatrope. Wonders of a new gramophone
5 Oct 1926 (Glasgow Herald): New Style Gramophone. The Electric "Panatrope".
5 Oct 1926 (Morning Post: New Gramophone

9 Oct 1926 (Sporting Times): Improving the Tone
9 Oct 1926 (The Daily Telegraph: The Panatrope

10 Oct 1925 (The Referee): The "Panatrope."
10 Oct 1925 (Reynolds News): The "Panatrope."
10 Oct 1925 (Sunday News): Enter the Panatrope


An undated article entitled "Points from the Introductory Remarks" (source of article unknown)


Also on Panatrope: Very Nearly To Talkies Without The Costs. British Exhibitors, Reproducers and Synchronisers, 1927-1929. MA History of Film and Visual Media Dissertation by Simon Murphy, September 2005



William S. DARBY (48y) engineer
SS "AQUITANIA" (Cunard Line)
1 Dec 1926, Cherbourg
7 Dec 1926, New York
128 Corona Ave., Pelham, New York, USA
Born: Orange City, S.C., USA



William S. DARBY
+ Marcelle DARBY (38y)
+ John S. DARBY (14y)
+ Kathleen M. DARBY (12y)
+ Robert M. DARBY (7y)
ethnicity: USA citizen
profession: engineer
ship's name: SS “MAJESTIC”
date of departure: .. Jan 1927, New York
port of departure: New York, USA
date of arrival: 4 Feb 1927, Southampton, Southamptonshire, ENGLAND, UK
age on arrival: 48y
place of residence: Martholme, Parkside, Wimbledon, London, ENGLAND, UK


6 Nov 1927:
Directors: George Roberts, Martholme, Parkside, Wimbledon, SW 19 (Chairman). William Sinkler Darby, Martholme, Parkside, Wimbledon, SW 19. Count Anthony Herbert de Bosdari, 54, Tufton St., Westminster, (Managing Director). (“The British Brunswick LTD.”, The Weekly Dispatch, London, England, 6 Nov 1927, p. 6)

22 May 1928:
Mr. George Roberts and Mr. Sinkler Darby have resigned from the board of the Brunswick Company and Sir Alan Burgoyne, Mr. E. D. Parsons and Mr. W. Goldie, who are also on the Duophone board, have been appointed directors. (“The Brunswick-Duophone Fusion”, The Guardian, London, England, 22 May 1928, p. 18)



William S Darby, 49y
SS “AQUITANIA”
Dep. 11 Aug 1928, Southampton, ENGLAND
Arr. 17 Aug 1928, NY, USA
Address in USA: Biltmore Hotel, NY, USA



William S. Darby, 50y, Engineer
SS “AQUITANIA”
Dep. .. Oct 1928, New York, USA
Arr. 31 Oct 1928, Southampton, ENGLAND
Address in UK: 6 Trebovir Rd., Earls Court, London



William Darby, 50y
SS “MAJESTIC”
Dep. 25 Sep 1929, Southampton, ENGLAND
Arr. 1 Oct 1929, New York, USA
Address in UK: 49 Roehampton Lane, London S.W.15., ENGLAND
Address in USA: 799, 7th Ave., New York City, NY, USA





William Sinkler DARBY
ethnicity: USA citizen
profession: engineer
ship's name: SS "BREMEN" (North German Lloyd)
date of departure: .. Dec 1929
port of departure: New York, USA
date of arrival: 20 Dec 1929, Southampton, Southamptonshire, ENGLAND, UK
age on arrival: 51y
place of residence UK: 49 Roehampton Lane, London S.W.15., ENGLAND



William Darby, 51y
SS “ADRIATIC”
Dep. 23 Aug 1930, Liverpool, ENGLAND
Arr. 1 Sep 1930, New York, USA
Address in USA: 799, 7th Ave., NYC, NY, USA



William DARBY
ethnicity: USA citizen
profession: engineer
ship's name: HMS "AQUITANIA" (Cunard Line)
date of departure: .. Dec 1930
port of departure: New York, USA
date of arrival: 10 Dec 1930, Southampton , ENGLAND, UK
age on arrival: 52y
place of residence UK: 49 Roehampton Lane, London S.W.15., ENGLAND


1939 ENGLAND and WALES REGISTER: Holton Cottage, Oxfordshire, Bullingdon Road, London
William S. Darby, Cleansing Material Dealer
Marcelle Darby, Unpaid Domestic Duties
Kathleen M. Darby, Industrial Designer



William Sinkler DARBY
ethnicity: USA citizen
profession:
ship's name: SS "AQUITANIA"
date of departure: 25 Febr 1939
port of departure: Southampton, Southamptonshire, ENGLAND, UK
date of arrival: 3 March 1939
age on arrival: 60y
place of residence USA: c/o American Express Co., 605 Fifth Avenue, New York City, USA



William Darby, 60y, Engineer
SS “AMERICAN MERCHANT”
Dep. New York, USA
Arr. 7 Aug 1939, London, ENGLAND
Address in UK: 21 Carlton Drive, Putney, London, UK



William Darby, 61y
+ Robert Darby, 21y
SS “GEORGE WASHINGTON”
Dep. 5 Jul 1940, Galway, IRELAND
Arr. 13 Jul 1940, NY, USA
Address in USA for William: 542 W. 112th St., NYC, NY, USA
Address in USA for Robert: 9 West Holy, Cranford, New Jersey, USA


4 Aug 1940:
Mr. William Sinkler Darby and Mr. Robert Roberts Darby of Wimbledon, England, are guests of their cousin, Mr. Charles E. Hilliard. (The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore, MD., 04 Aug 1940, p. 14)


27 Sep 1940:
William Sinkler Darby, of London, England, has returned to New York after visiting his cousin, Charles Edward Hilliard, South Prospect st. (The Daily Mail, Hagerstown, MD., 27 Sep 1940, p. 8)


21 Oct 1940:
W. Sinkler Darby, of London, who is now established in business in Baltimore, and New York, is the guest of his cousin, Charles Edward Hilliard, South Prospect st. (The Daily Mail, Hagerstown, MD., 21 Oct 1940, p. 6)


1942 WWII Draft Cards:
William Sinkler Darby, 63y
Residence: 1763 Columbia Road NW, Washington, DC
Next of Kin: Miss Louise Hilliard


21 Nov 1944:
Execulone, Communication Systems, W. Sinkler Darby, 100 North Eutaw st., Baltimore 1, MD. (The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore, Maryland, 21 Nov 1944, p. 13)


26 Feb 1946:
W. Sinkler Darby, 200 blos. South Prospect St., reported to city police yesterday the theft of a 22 rifle and Maxim silencer from the Market House basement. (“Reports Rifle Stolen”, The Morning Herald, Hagerstown, Maryland, 26 Feb 1946, p. 1) In 1946 the Hilliard Home was offered for public sale.



William S. Darby, 67y, Advertiser
Dep. 11 Jul 1946, London, ENGLAND
Arr. 12 Jul 1946, New York, USA
Airline: AMERICAN OVERSEAS
Address in USA: 100 North Eutaw St., Baltimore, Md.



Marcelle DARBY (58y)
AMERICAN OVERSEAS AIRLINES
25 Sep 1946, London, ENGLAND
26 Sep 1946, New York, USA
Bronxville Hotel, Bronxville, N.Y., USA
(OFF AT SHANNON)
26 Sep 1946, Shannon, EIRE (IRELAND)
27 Sep 1946, New York, USA
Bronxville Hotel, Bronxville, N.Y., USA



Marcelle DARBY
RMS “MAURETANIA”
dep. New York: .. May 1947
arr. Southampton (via Cherbourg): 6 June 1947



Sinkler DARBY (69y)
+ Marcelle DARBY (59y)
SS "QUEEN MARY"
dep.: 20 Nov 1947, Southampton, ENGLAND
arr.: 25 Nov 1947, New York, NY, USA
Address in USA: 100 North Eutaw St., Baltimore, MD.
WRONG IMAGE SHOWN (IMAGE 168)



William Darby, 69y, Merchant
SS “QUEEN MARY”
Dep. 1948, NY, USA
Arr. 13 Apr 1948, Southampton, ENGLAND
Address in UK: 29 Westbourne Terrace, London W2.
Address in USA: 100 North Eutaw St., Baltimore, MD.



William Sinkler Darby, 70y
SS “QUEEN ELIZABETH”
Dep. 17 Nov 1948, Southampton, ENGLAND
Arr. 6 Dec 1948, NY, USA
Address in UK: 29 Westbourne Terrace, London W2.
Address in USA: 100 North Eutaw St., Baltimore, MD.


ADDRESSES OF W. S. DARBY IN USA:
1880 Fort Motte (Amelia Township), Orangeburg, South Carolina (birthplace)

At some time between 1880 and 1890 the Darby family (Henry, Margaret and Sinkler) moved to Washington
Arguments for this are:
- the 1890/1891 Washington addresses of Henry Sinkler Darby.
- Henry Sinkler Darby died on 10 Jan 1904 at La Grand Flats, G Street, northwest, Washington, D.C..
- see also Washington Post of 22 December 1906) describes Sinkler as a "Washingtonian".
- Passport Applications


Washington Addresses HENRY SINKLER DARBY (wife Margaret and son William Sinkler probably included)
1890 2 F northwest, Washington, D.C. (Washington, D.C. City Directory, 1890) clerk
1891 411 NY avenue, northwest, Washington, D.C. (Washington, D.C. City Directory, 1890 (= 1891?)) bookkeeper


.... 500 block of 523 11th Street, N.W., Washington DC ? (source: Sam Brylawski)
1905 (July) 1139 Ninth Street, N.W., Washington DC (source: Washington Post of 15 July 1905)


REGISTRATION CARDS 1917/1918:
.... 523 - 11th St., Washington, D.C. (nearest relative: mother, wife and two children = ca post-1914)
.... 523 - 11th Street, Washington, D.C. (dependant on Darby for support: mother, wife and two children = ca post-1914)


ADDRESSES OF W. S. DARBY IN ENGLAND:
1914 Highlands, 57 Murray Road, Wimbledon, London, ENGLAND
1916 29 Corfton Road, Ealing, W.5., ENGLAND
1918 29 Corfton Road, Ealing, W.5., ENGLAND
1919 29 Corfton Road, Ealing, W.5., ENGLAND


ADDRESSES OF W. S. DARBY IN USA:
1922 Kensington, Maryland, USA
19.. 170 West 107th Street, New York City, NY
.... Biltmore/Biltmere Hotel, New York City, NY
1923 16 West 36th Street, New York City, NY (1923)
1924-1926 128 Corona Avenue, Pelham, New York (1924/1925/1926)
........ 100 N. Eutaw Street, Baltimore I, Maryland
19**-1950 101 West Monument Street, Baltimore, MD
3448 Park Heights Avenue, Baltimore, MD (Miss Peters)


ADDRESSES OF W. S. DARBY IN ENGLAND:
1926-1927 Martholme, Parkside, Wimbledon, UK (house of Marcelle's parents, the ROBERTS family)
1929-1930 49 Roehampton Lane, London S.W.15., UK


W. S. DARBY PASSPORT APPLICATIONS
* passports WSDARBY.doc


- No. 3244
issued Washington, 13 March 1899
born: Columbia, SC


LEFT USA SEPTEMBER 1901


- No. 301
issued Berlin, 17 April 1903
born: Columbia, SC


- No. 2708
issued Berlin, 2 Apr 1906
born: Columbia, SC
He desired the passport for the purpose of identification and entering Russia
AVAILABLE : MARIA KAPKIDI


LEFT US ON 7 JANUARY 1907


- 59001 (No. 57) (Not 52001)
issued Paris, 23 June 1908
born: Orangeburg County, SC


LAST LEFT US SEPTEMBER 1913 (SOURCE: 12997)


- 810
issued London, 8 Aug 1914
Notes:
1) Passport Application No. 809, issued in London, 8 Aug 1914 belongs to L. G. Haas[e], born on 25 Feb 1865, Dayton, Ohio, Engineer for travelling in the continent.
2) On the next page of the US Passport Applications 1795-1925, there is the Passport Application of Wm. C. Gaisberg, No. 811, issued in London, 8 Aug 1914. Wm. C. Gaisberg: born on 16 Jun 1879 in Washington, DC. And his occupation was Manager for the purpose of returning to USA.


- 44405
issued London, 24 Nov 1914
born: Orangeburg, Co., SC
For travelling to Russia and England for gramophone business, Italy for commercial business, France and Spain for the busines of gramophone company.


- 38926 (3558)
issued London, 9 Nov/Dec 1916
born: Fort Motte
Representing The Gramophone Co. a connection of the Victor Talking Machine Company, Camden, New Jersey
Immediate relation in USA: Uncle, Thomas Hilliard, Hagerstown, Maryland


- 12997 (No. 5075)
issued Washington, 13 April 1918
born: Orangeburg County
Purpose: Employee gramophone Company
Identification from W. C. Gaisberg
References: Thomas Hilliard, Hagerstown, MD. & Wil McCardle, Hagerstown, MD.
Note: Next Passport Application, No. 5076, belongs to W. C. Gaisberg. Born on 16 Jun 1878, Washington, DC. Purpose: Manager Gramophone Co. Identified by W. S. Darby.


- 137114 (No. 695)
issued Washington, DC or London, 8 Nov 1919
born: Orangeburg, SC


RESIDED FROM 1913 TO NOVEMBER 1920 IN ENGLAND
RESIDED FROM NOVEMBER 1920 TO MARCH 1921 IN CANADA
for the purpose of Mechanical Engineer

- 30116
issued Montreal, 6 May 1921
born: Orangeburg, SC
(with Photo)


- No. 383681
Issued US 26 Mar 1924
Address: 128 Corona Ave., Pelham, NY, USA
REFERENCES:
(Uncle) Thomas Hilliard, Hagerstown, MD
Edward Hilliard, Hagerstown, MD
Will McCardle, Hagerstown, MD
James Adams, Kensington, MD


PASSPORT APPLICATIONS

1908 W. Sinkler DARBY


1916 W. Sinkler DARBY


1918 W. Sinkler DARBY


1919 W. Sinkler DARBY


1921 W. Sinkler DARBY


1924 W. Sinkler DARBY



1916 Marcelle M. O. DARBY
picture of Mary Ellen DARBY (W. S. Darby's mother)

1917 Marcelle M. O. DARBY


1918 Marcelle M. O. DARBY


1921 Marcelle DARBY


1924 Marcelle DARBY


1912 Mary Ellen DARBY (Darby's mother)



NOTES

  • Diaries of W. Sinkler Darby (EMI Music Archives / Maryanne Dassonville-Darby)
  • Brunswick by Ross Laird
  • Very Nearly To Talkies Without The Costs. British Exhibitors, Reproducers and Synchronisers, 1927-1929. MA History of Film and Visual Media Dissertation by Simon Murphy, September 2005
  • Photovox, pp. 407-408 of We also have our own records, part 38 by Frank Andrews (in: For the record, No. 31, autumn 2009, part 38)
  • Brunswick Records: A Discography of Recordings, 1916-1931. Volume 1: New York Sessions, 1916-1926 (Discographies) by Ross Laird
  • Brunswick Records: A Discography of Recordings, 1916-1931. Volume 2: New York Sessions, 1927-1931 (Discographies) by Ross Laird
  • Brunswick Records: A Discography of Recordings, 1916-1931. Volume 3: Chicago and Regional Sessions (Discographies) by Ross Laird
  • Brunswick Records: A Discography of Recordings, 1916-1931. Volume 4: Other Non-U.S. Recordings & Indexes; Cliftophone & British Brunswick Recordings 1922-1929; Buenos Aires (Argentina) Recordings; European Recordings. by Ross Laird
  • British Brunswick: The History of Brunswick Cliftophone, Brunswick Cliftophone Ltd. and Brunswick in the 1920 adapted from a talk given to the CLPGS on 23 June 1981 by Frank Andrews (in: Hillandale News No. 122 of Oct 1981 (pp. 265-273))

  • HMV – The Gramophone Company Matrix Series Identifying Letters: A Summary by John Milmo (online publication; revised 21 June 2020)



PHOTOS

Max Hampe and William Sinkler Darby, Bombay, Feb 1905
W. Sinkler Darby instructing his children John and Kathleen for a private recording.
John and Kathleen Darby being recorded.
Notice the poster on the wall: Have you had your voice photographed on a "DARBYCORD"?
Sinkler and his wife Marcelle getting their youngest son Robert (Bob) to perform in front of the horn...
The Darby family and two unknown persons listening to a record.
Notice the picture of the bowler-hatted Titta Ruffo on the wall.
The actual picture given to Sinkler Darby by Titta Ruffo. Written at the bottom:
"A Mr. W. Sinkler Darby. Souvenir d'Amitié, Titta Ruffo. Milano 20 ottobre 1906">
Darbycord pressing of a recording of Darby's youngest son Robert (Bob)
made on 16 February 1922.
Sample pressing on Brunswick of Robert (Bob) Darby,
probably made in 1925, New York.
Original sleeve of the above.
Original sleeve of the above.
Picture of Emile Berliner.
Written in the top right hand corner:
"To Sinkler from his friend Emile Berliner. W[ashington] D.C. Mar[ch] 17, 1920"
Berliner gave an almost identical photograph to Fred Gaisberg
(see opposite p. 11 of Music on Record by F. W. Gaisberg)
from l. to r. (sitting up front): Emile Berliner and Werner Suess
from l. to r. (standing in the middle): Fred Gaisberg, Joe Sanders and Zip Sanders
from l. to r. (standing at the back): W. Sinkler Darby and Raymond Gloetzner



THANK YOU


Maryanne Dassonville-Darby
EMI Music Archives
Alan Kelly †
Ruth Edge
Michael Kinnear †
Toon Pennings
Maria Kapkidi (co-researcher RP)
Sam Brylawski