labelindexG-J

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.

Label	Label Photo
Gaiety A very rare label from the WWI period. The two examples known of use masters also available on Jumbo records of the period. Any information or a label scan would be appreciated.
Gamage Gamage was produced by The British Homophone Company for A. W. Gamage Ltd, of Holborn, London. They are very rare nowadays and little is known about what may be found on this label, or for how long it was available. They use the same source of masters as Homochord, i.e. English Vocalion, American Vocalion, Zonophone and possibly Emerson, too. The catalogue numbers are in a G-500 series and they don't quite seem to reach G-700. The earlier Green labelled one here, I know nothing about. Click here to see a partial listing.
Globe (sold inAustralia) Globe records were pressed by the Homophon company for sale in Australia during the pre-WWI years. Masters from both Beka and Favorite were used. My thanks to Derek Kell for providing the label scan.
Globophon A German manufactured disc from pre-WWI available in Britain. My thanks to Ray Stephenson for the label photo.
Globos These records date from 1906-7 and were available from Frank Rauth or 9, Christopher Street, Finsbury Square, London. They were allegedly indestructable and cost 2/- for single sided and 3/- for double sided discs. Please e-mail me with details of ANY of these records. Also a scan.
Goodson One of the more eccentric flexible records available during the late 1920s and early 1930s, Goodson (named after the company's owner, Jack Goodson) were made out of a flexible white material known as Rhodoid. They cost 1/9 (about 9p) and purchasers were encouraged to play them with a used needle! U.S. masters were from Emerson, Grey Gull, Banner & QRS. Own-produced masters were used later on. The vast majority are dance records with the occasional more "serious" item thrown in, sometimes using early continental masters. The sound quality is quite good, but, like most flexibles, they suffer from warping.
Grafton A fairly elusive label, Grafton records were available from 1924 until 1927, initially with a green label, changing to red quite soon. U.S. matrices were from Emerson & Federal to start with, but subsequently, all were from Pathe, both American and English masters. Numbering started at 9001 and may not have reached 9300 by the time the label was withdrawn. Click here for a listing of this label
Grammavox This was the principal label of the Sound Recording Company od Swallow Street, Piccadilly, London and the records were available from 1910 to about 1915. The pressings were done by Crystalate. The records themselves were oversized at 10¼" and played at 77 rpm. The catalogue numbers were in an E-1 series (sometimes without the prefix). Please e-mail me with details of ANY of these records.
Gramophone Although the word "gramophone" referring to a player of disc records became a generic term, it was originally the trade name of the Gramophone Company and the records were therefore Gramophone Records. The "recording angel" trade mark used by the company in it's Berliner period was retained from 1902 to 1909, when Nipper and the gramophone appear and the label name changed in 1910 to "His Master's Voice". Gramophone records were available in 7", 10" and 12" sizes and were all single-sided.
Gramstop These were pressed by Crystalate immediately following WWI, on behalf of The Automatic Gramstop Syndicate Ltd of Retford, Nottinhamshire. Please e-mail me with details of ANY of these records.
Grand Pree (sold in Australia) The earlier Grand Pree records are pasted over Winner records (see example 1), but later ones are manufactured (with a properly pressed label) by Pathe, using Actuelle masters. All date from the early to mid 1920s. Thanks to Bill Dean-Myatt and Adam Miller for providing the label photos.
Great Scott A very rare label from Scotland (based in Glasgow). The few I've seen tend to be of Scottish music, but there are a few dance bands (see illustration). See also Chris Hamilton's website for more details about this label & record company. scan kindly provided by Charles Hippisley-Cox.
Guardsman Launched in 1914, Guardsman records were a successor to Invicta records. The records were initially pressed by Crystalate using Invicta masters (some early issues are just a small sticker over old stock). The numbering was in a 3-digit series continuing from where Invicta left off, and the label seemed to vary in colour at random. In 1922, Vocalion took over the pressing and, using their own masters and those from Gennett & Vocalion, continued the label until 1928 when they ceased 10" records, by which time the numbers had reached the early 2100s. The likeness of a guardsman on the label was taken from a painting by Francis Barraud (who also painted the famous HMV trademark) of Lieutenant Hassell. A group of enthusiatic collectors (including myself) have taken on the task of producing a complete (!) listing of all Guardsman records with the considerable help of the late Arthur Badrock's information. however there are still many gaps, so if you have information about any of the following Guardsman records, please let me know: (updated March 29, 2010). 2-4; 7-14; 18; 20; 23-28; 30; 32-34; 37; 39; 40; 42; 45; 50-51; 53-54; 56; 63-65; 67-68; 70-71; 74-77; 79-83; 85; 87; 91; 93; 102-103; 111; 119; 124; 128-130; 132; 135; 137; 143-145; 150; 158-159; 164; 168; 171; 180; 185-186; 188-190; 525; 619; 624; 627; 633; 637; 639; 643; 648-649; 659-662; 664-665; 695; 697-698; 700-703; 716; 858; 965-966; 1114-1116; 1150; 1155-1156; 1158-1159; 1164; 1168-1169; 1178; 1190-1194; 1196; 1199; 1206-1207; 1209; 1217-1219; 1222; 1229; 1232-1233; 1236; 1239; 1241; 1246-1248; 1253-1256; 1258-1261; 1263-1264; 1270; 1277; 1279-1280; 1284; 1286; 1292-1293; 1298-1299; 1302-1303; 1305; 1307; 1322-1325; 1329-1330; 1335; 1338; 1347; 1352; 1356; 1360; 1362; 1365; 1369-1370; 1381; 1384; 1391; 1394; 1404-1405; 1407-1408; 1410-1413; 1418; 1424; 1484; 1632-1633; 1635; 1638; 1640; 1642; 1644-1646; 1649-1650; 1652-1653; 1655; 1657; 1661-1662; 1664-1666; 1673-1676; 1678; 1681-1682; 1686; 1688-1690; 1692; 1694-1695; 1706; 1709; 1786-1787; 1789; 1793; 1814; 1820; 1881; 1909; 2064-2065; 2071; 2078; 2108; 2112; 2120; 2124; 2129-2131; 2134. The early numbers (prior to about 350) would originally have been issued as 'Invicta' records, but may have been kept available in the catalogue once the Guardsman label took over. In addition to the above "normal" 10" series, there were 12" records in a 2000- series. We have the titles for any up to 2115, but no further details after that, and no matrix or control numbers for almost any of them at all. Then there were the "ethnic" series. The 7000- "Negro Race" series is fully documented, but there were others about which we have almost no information and any assistance will be most useful: These are in 6000-, 8000 and N-8000 series. In addition there were advertised Danish and Welsh series, none of which have been seen at all. As I said any help, let me know.
Heart Heart records were available for a short period just prior to WWI, in 1913-14. They were pressed in Germany using Dacapo masters and also had Dacapo catalogue numbers. Please e-mail me with details of ANY of these records. Thanks to Bill Dean-Myatt for providing the label photo.
Hebrophon A pre-WWI German -manufactured record that may have been marketed in Britain. Please e-mail me with details of ANY of these records. Thanks to Bill Dean-Myatt for the label scan.
Herald (GB/NZ) Herald were pressed by Edison Bell for a Mr Pidgeon, who marketing the records in New Zealand from 1913. The catalogue numbers were in a 1000 series. Please e-mail me with details of ANY of these records. Also a label scan.
Herman Darewski This well-known band leader and music publisher also produced his own record label; judging by this example they were personal recordings. Any information about this operation or details of any other records will be gratefully received Thanks to Bill Dean-Myatt for this label scan
Hibernia The Hibernia Record Co, the trading name of a Mr. J. Harris, started at the turn of the 19th century in Dublin, Ireland. Hibernia records, manufactured in Germany, were available in the "gramophone boom" period just before WWI, using Homophon(e) masters. The catalogue series started at 1, but it is not known how far it ran. Please e-mail me with details of ANY of these records.
His Master's Voice Probably the most famous name in record production in the world; certainly the trade mark is! The name was introduced in 1910 as the main trade name for The Gramophone Company. HMV records (as they are generally known) was the premium product, costing more than all the others and with the top artists. The name has survived the merger with Columbia in 1931 and all the subsequent shake-ups of the record industry and still stands for quality! Here is a listing (not quite complete) of the JF- series, and a start on the JH-series.
Homo Baby This was a 6" disc produced by British Homophone and pressed by The Gramophone Company in 1926. Numbering started at 1 and ran to just over 50. All recordings were acoustic.
Homochord The German Homophon Company started exporting their Homophon, later Homophone records to England in 1906 and started the Homochord label in 1913, both labels fading out in England during WWI. In 1921, the Homochord label was revived, pressed by the Universal Music Company and subsequently Vocalion, Pathe and the Gramophone Company all had a hand in producing these quite exotic-looking records. The British Homophone Company also produced their own masters and took complete control of pressing by the late 1920s. The label finally disappeared in 1934.
Homophon(e) This was the predecessor to the Homochord label, being produced by Homophon in Germany from 1905, establishing a London studio in 1906 though still pressing the records in Germany. The label lasted until the outbreak of WWI in 1914.
Hudson Hudson records appeared first in 1934, issuing mainly light classical and strict-tempo dance music. Some of the dance records are by bands which made no other recordings, such as Howard Baker and his Orchestra, whose singer on record was a very young Vera Lynn, making her first recording. Some are labelled "Hudson Trusound", made for Cinemas and distributed by Winads Ltd. Hudsons are quite rare and the label was only around for a few years.
Ideal There were at least two labels of this name dating from pre-1920 (not to be confused with "Scala Ideal" records from the 1920s). Any information and especially label scans would be gratefully received.
Imp An Edison Bell label, probably dating from WWI, though no examples have been seen by me. There is a theory they were made for export to the USA. Any examples, or information would be vey useful. Thanks to Rainer Lotz for the label scan.
Imperial Imperial records were produced in England by the Crystalate Gramophone Company from 1920 until 1934. The catalogue numbers started at 1000 and ran up until 2953, but, uniquely, the numbers went backwards from 1000 for earlier masters being re-issued. American matrices from the Plaza Group (aka Banner) and later from Crown were issued copiously throughout the whole period. There were also a number of 3½" promotional discs, click here for more details of these. More details and pictures
Imperial Junior Imperial Junior records were 7" in size, produced by Crystalate in the mid-1920s for export to Australia. All recordings were English and acoustically recorded. Catalogue numbers ran from 1 to about 100. Thanks to Rainer Lotz for the label scan
International Silva Talking Record A record label of this name has been reported, but no examples have yet been seen.
Invicta Despite the very British patriotic look to the label, Invicta was made in Germany by Berolina Schallplatte mbh., using masters from Dacapo and other companies. The catalogue numbers were in a 3-digit series starting at 100 and reaching into the 400s by the time the name was changed to Guardsman in 1914. The later Invicta records, with dark blue & gold labels (see second example), were pressed by Crystalate.
I.S.I. ISI stood for Internationale Scallplatten Industrie. This company, based in Leipzig, Germany produced this label in the years before WWI. The european version of the label showed the details in up to 4 different languages; the British version of the label showed the information in English only, but printed twice. The label was black with gold printing. Please contact me if you can provpide any details of these records. Thanks to Ray Stephenson for the label photo.
Jaycee Jaycee records were pressed by Crystalate from their Imperial masters during the mid-1920s. The masters date from around 1926 and the records were sold in the Co-Op. They are pretty rare and the series, which was in a J-100 range, was quite short-lived, probably less than 20 different records. Guessing from the value on the copyright stamp (5/8d), the record probably cost about 1/6, the same price as the Imperial issues.. Please e-mail me with details of ANY of these records. Click here to see the few I know about.
Jazz Collector Founded in 1949, this label specialized in reissuing rare jazz classics from the 1920s. It was made for the Jazz Art Society of 65, Bramber Road, West Kensington, London. The catalogue numbers started at L-1 and ran for over 100 issues. All were dubs taken from the originals and vary somewhat in quality.
JLCO A very colourful pre-WWI record, JLCO discs were pressed in Germany using Bel-Canto masters and catalogued in a 5000 series. Please e-mail me with details of ANY of these records. Thanks to Bill Dean-Myatt for providing the label photo.
John Bull Another very patriotic-looking label, but produced in Germany on the "tally-man" system. This was sold door-to-door and the customer would get a free gramophone after signing an agreement to buy a set number of records (about 50) over the next year, at 2/6 each. John Bull records first appeared in 1909 using masters from Beka and Favorite, and later on, other German and British companies became involved, until the company ceased in 1913 and all old stock bought by the Albion record Company.
Jolly Boys A 6" disc pressed by the Gramophone Company in 1926 using masters also available generally on Homo-Baby. It was short-lived with a catalogue running from 101 to 110. Thanks to Bill Dean-Myatt for providing the label photo.
Joyphone No Joyphone records have yet been found, but a record sleeve for one turned up in Australia.
Jumbo The first Jumbo records appear in 1908, as a cheap equivalent to Fonotipia. The records were initially made in Germany, but subsequently pressed by Crystalate and later the Mead Works in Hertfordshire. Masters came from Fonotipia, Lindstrom and Beka. The catalogue numbering started at 1 (often not shown on the label initially, but stamped into the smooth area around the label) and ran up to about 1580 in 1919, when the label name was changed to Venus (q.v.).
Jupiter It is thought that there were only 2 different Jupiter records issued, both by bass-baritone Charles Knowles, probably dating to the early 1920s.