These pages are just notes about the labels which may be found on 78s. Click on the label to see a larger image. Many labels have more pictures, information and sometimes listings which may be found by clicking on the link.  I have included labels from all periods, not just the 1920s and 1930s, just because I find them all interesting!  
         All label scans are from my own collection unless otherwise noted. Information about the labels is from various sources, including my own researching, but Brian Rust's "The American Record Label Book" was very useful as was Don Taylor's "The English 78 Picture Book" and various articles by Frank Andrews and Arthur Badrock in "Hillandale News" and "The Talking Machine Review".           
        In order to make the pages more managable (and quicker to load), I have split this section into alphabetical parts. Click on the appropriate letter below to see the section you want.      

A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   X   Y   Z

Label	Label Photo	Other
Aco (GB) A Popular cheaper label introduced in 1922 by The Aeolian Company in England. English masters were originals recorded for Aco. American masters came originally from Gennett, then from Vocalion and the last few are from Gennett again. The label was discontinued in 1927. Catalogue numbers were in a G-15000 series.                                                                                 More details and photos
Actuelle (GB / USA) Actuelle was Pathe's product as their entry into the "needle-cut" market (i.e. not "vertical cut").  It was first introduced in 1920 in America and 1921 in England. Masters were used from both the American and English studios as well as some French items. The label ceased to be produced in 1930 (in America) and 1928 (in England).                                                                 More details and photos
Adelphi (GB) This extremely rare British label is also one I know little about, other than it is from the Vocalion stable like Beltona, Guardsman, etc. It may have been produced for export only, judging by the rarity.  Label scan kindly supplied by Richard Johnson, from an original record belonging to Steve Paget.
Aerial (GB) An extremely rare label, Aerial were a so-called unbreakable record manufactured by Duophone and using the same masters and pseudonyms as the Duophone M- series. Only a few have turned up and so the extent of the label's catalogue is so far unknown, as is the "reason" for the label, i.e. who was the label produced for.
Aerona (Australia) A 7" disc manufactured by Crystalate in England for export to Australia. They were available during about 1926 and 1928, and used mainly (if not completely) English masters recorded in London. My thanks to Derek Kell for the label scan.
AGA (GB)
Albion (GB) A fairly scarce pre-first world war "British" label actually produced by the German Beka organisation from 1912, although the label state "Manufactured in England". Some may be found as label paste-over on John Bull records. As you'd expect, there's no Dance Band material as the label pre-dates that style of music, though some Ragtime music may be found. The catalogue numbers were in a 1000 series.
Alexander  (GB) A very scarce label from pre-WWI. This one actually states "Made in Germany" though the labelling is all in English. It is thought to have been produced for the Alexander Record Company of Birmingham, Chester, Coventry & Manchester. The catalogue series are the same as the Beka discs from whence the masters are all derived. They started at 1 or 100; the highest known being 478, the Beka issue of which was issued in late 1911. Because of its period, no dance music, as we consider it here, was issued on this label, though, no doubt, ragtime may be found.
Anchor  (GB)
Angelus  (Australia) Angelus was an Australian Label produced in the late 1920s and early 1930s. It resembles the American Gennett Electrobeam label, even to using the heading "Electrobeam", but the two examples I have seen both use American Plaza group masters (i.e. Banner), and date from about 1930. Catalogue numbers are in a 3000 series.
Apex (Canada) Apex was the main label produced by The Compo Company of Montreal, Canada. It was introduced  in 1920 and there were several numerical series to the catalogue numbers as well as several sources for the masters, such as Okeh, Gennett and Plaza (Banner, Regal etc). The name was dropped in 1932, but revived in 1943 and continued in use until the late 1970s. My thanks to Steven C. Barr for the Apex information.            More Details.
Apollo (GB) A rare pre-WWI label, produced for Craies & Stavridi of 101, Bunhill Row, London.
Applaudando (Germany/Denmark/Sweden) This was a German-produced label dating from immediately before the Great War. Starting in about 1911, there were probably about 2000 different records issued, using both their own recordings and others from companies such as Beka. My thanks to Fredrik Tersmeden for the details & label scan.  More Details.
Ariel (GB) Ariel was a mail-order label produced for J. G. Graves of Sheffield, England. It was available from 1910 until 1938, a quite amazing length of time. During it's lifetime there were a bewildering number of catalogue series and sources for this label. The majority of dance music was from Parlophone (including many American Okeh and European Odeon masters) and Zonophone, mostly issued as "Ariel Dance Orchestra".                                                          More details and pictures
Arrow (GB) An early British label pressed by the Carl Lindstrom group using Beka masters (often of an earlier vintage), Arrow existed from 1913 up to about 1916. The catalogue series was numbered A1 upwards to about A223. The label was either Red or Yellow (as shown).
Autograph (USA) Autograph records of Chicago were recorded by Marsh Laboratories (president: Orlando Marsh) and were the first commercial electrically-recorded records, albeit of a rather primitive type, in 1924. The records are exceedingly rare, not surprising when you realise they cost $1.50 each. Many of the records were custom-produced and have no catalogue number. They were available from (probably) late 1923 until 1926. My thanks to Joe Moore for the label scan.