Then you had a guy named Caruso ...
I've heard it said that 1906 was Caruso's "prime." Don't know if it's true, but here in any case is the 1906 recording of Tosti's beloved Ideale:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w85mS_Z8OAQ
The Official (Sometimes Guilt-Ridden) Blog of Leonardo Ciampa