Friday, December 2, 2011, would have been the 106th birthday of Folkways Records founder Moses Asch, who released 2,168 albums on the label during his life (an average of one per week!).

Smithsonian Folkways sound production supervisor Pete Reiniger recently dusted off one of Moe’s studio microphones, a Western Electric "Birdcage" model (available from 1938 to 1949) that was likely used on many of the recordings in the small, one-room Folkways Records studio. We’re pleased to say that not only does it still work, but it sounds great!

One-Day Discount! Save 20% off retail price on any order from folkways.si.edu. Enter code Happy106Moe until December 2, 2011 only.