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The Flag
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This was one of the many pre-WWI records produced by Beka of Germany for the British market, probably dating to about 1912. There were about 600 issues, with catalogue numbers matching Beka Grand records, and available in both 10" (see image) and 12" sizes, the latter bearing lilac and gold labels. The 12" catalogue numbers matched those of Beka Meister records.

The Flag records don't seem to have been advertised in the trade journals, and it is quite likely it was a "tallyman" record, sold door-to-door under a contract to purchase a fixed number of records over a fixed period (and receive a 'free' gramophone on loan). This would fit with the British patriotic style of other known tallyman labels such as Britannic and John Bull. The Beka Record Co had withdrawn from providing John Bull records in the summer of 1911, so maybe The Flag Records dates from just after that time. This would also fit with the German application for the trade mark which was submitted in December 1911.

However, these records do turn up regularly in Australia, so that may also provide a clue to their mystery.

 

My thanks to Frank Andrews in providing most of the information for this page. Please e-mail me if you can help with any additions to the listing.
On those where I only know one side, I have not assumed the same coupling as the Beka Grand original issue, despite what I have written above, until I have the full information on the discs!

Thanks also to the following who have provided extra details: Mike Atkins, John Carpenter, "Discogs.com", Norman Field, Adrian Smith

Page last updated on: December 06, 2022

Cat No Matrix Title Labelled Artists
1      
       
7 40554
40555		 Sullivan Memories, Part I
Sullivan Memories, Part II		 Flag London Orchestra (= Beka London Orchestra, dir. Julian Jones)
       
17 40454
40455		 Pantomime Memories, selection I
Pantomime Memories, selection II		 Flag London Orchestra (= Beka London Orchestra, dir. Julian Jones)
       
25 40472
40500		 War March Of The Priests ("Athalie" - Mendelssohn)
Overture "Ruy Blas" (Mendelssohn)		 Flag London Orchestra
Flag Symphony Orchestra (cond. S.L. Wertheim)
       
55 40039
40040		 Dancing With Ma Baby (B.R. Anthony)
Inspiration, valeta valse (L. C. Everett)		 Flag London Orchestra
       
80   Here, There And Everywhere, march (A. Bosc) Royal Artillery (cond: Mr E.C. Stretton)
       
95 40437
40438		 Frivolity - barn dance
Romping Rosie		 John Pidoux (banjo)
96 40439
40440		 Sambo's Pic-Nic
Coonland Memories		 John Pidoux (banjo)
       
132 40353
40355		 The Heart Bowed Down (Balfe)
Tempest Of The Heart ("Il Trovatore" - Verdi)		 Alan Turner (baritone)
       
140 40514
40515		 Chorus Gentlemen (H. Löhr)
The Drum Major		 Bantock Pierpoint (baritone)
       
158 40521 When We Went To School Together Harry Trevor (baritone)
       
182 40312
40313		 Little By Little And Bit By Bit
Won't You Go With Me To Gogo		 Will Terry (comic)
       
190 40049
40185		 My Wife's Sister's Pussy Cat
I Ought To Be Punished		 Harry Champion (comic)
Tom Wootwell (comic)
       
196 9711
9712		 At The Seaside
Oh, Isn't It Singular?		 Ernest Shand (comic)
       
242 40559
40629		 Il Corricolo, galop
The Sweep's Intermezzo (Paul Rubens)		 Flag London Orchestra
       
264 40664
40665		 Tom O' Devon (Kennedy Russell)
Three For Jack (W.H. Squire)		 Harry Thornton (baritone)
       
358 40840
40936		 Les Petits Matelots, march (Ganne)
Life Guards March (Allier)		 Flag London Orchestra
       
398 41030
41031		 Once Again (Sullivan)
Love's Request (Reichardt)		 Philip Ritte (tenor)
       
426 41112 The King's Body Guard, Grand Processional March (Raymond) Flag London Orchestra
       
434 40994
40995		 Reminiscenses Of Wales, part 1 (Fred Godfrey)
Reminiscenses Of Wales, part 2 (Fred Godfrey)		 Flag London Orchestra
       
447 41105
.		 I'm Always Doing Something Silly
The Brown Cow		 Jay Laurier (comic)
       
454 41230
41231		 "Pinafore", selection part 1 (Sullivan)
"Pinafore", selection part 2 (Sullivan)		 Flag London Orchestra
       
478 41321
41916		 I Like Your Apron And Your Bonnet (Lawrance)
Some Day You'll Know		 Stanley Kirkby (baritone)
       
500 41352
41353		 No More Stopping Out Late (Bert Lee)
It Was Three O'Clock In The Morning (David, Penso)		 Jack Charman
Jack Charman & Stanley Kirkby
501      
502      
501      
504 40410
40412		 You're The One
Let's All Go Mad		 Billy Williams (comic)
505 41406 Sally O Mally [sic] Billy Williams (comic)
506 41408
41409		 I Don't Care
Why Can't We Have The Sea In London?		 Billy Williams (comic)
       
525 ? 41500 Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly?   [incorrect label, Cat No may be wrong - YouTube] Flag London Orchestra (= Beka London Orchestra)
       
530 41361
41362		 Sneezing  (Laurier)
I Shall Sulk (Wells, Terry)		 Jay Laurier (comic)
       
542 41558
41561		 Carroty (J.P. Long)
Song Of Songs Up To Date		 Bert Weston (comic) (= Alf Willis)
       
583 41480
41483		 Piccaninny Mine, Goodnight
My Juliet		 Stanley Kirkby (baritone)