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
QRS (USA) Better known as piano roll manufacturers, QRS made two notable excursions in record production, neither of which were particularly successful if the rarity of the original records are anything to go by. In the late 1920s there was a black-labelled series which issued a handful of highly desirable jazz items. Then in 1930, there was the red-label series (pictured) which consisted mainly of dance band items directed by Carl Fenton. Both series were very short-lived.
Radiex (USA) Radiex records first appeared in 1922, prduced by the Scranton Button Company. The label was black-on-orange and drew on Emerson & Plaza (Banner) for their matrices. By 1924, it had been taken on by Grey Gull, who provided all the matrices from this point until the label's demise in 1930, with the label's design changing regularly. Surplus Radiex records were shipped across to Britain and sold in Woolworth's Stores.
Radio (GB) Edison Bell's entry into the lucrative 8" disc market came in 1928 with Radio records. The first issues made no mention of "Edison Bell" on the label. The records were described as "The Big 8" and cost 1/3. It was a high-quality product aimed at the popular market. Ex-music hall artist, Harry Hudson, was musical director and provided most of the dance music under a variety of pseudonyms. In 1931, the gold-on-blue colour scheme was almost reversed and it became black-on-gold, but time was running out and the label ceased to be in 1932. The catalogue numbers started at 800 and reached just over 1600 at the end, though 1000-1200 weren't used (at least in Britain). Continental series usually had a prefix and were printed with a dark blue-on-violet label with the same design as the usual British ones. All were recorded and made in Britain. Matrix numbers were in an 80000-series.
Redwing (GB) A pretty obscure label, Redwing was produced by British Homophone, using matrices also issued on Sterno. The label was presumably made for a shop or store, but I don't know which one, if so. The catalogue numbers are in an R-1000 series, the extent of which is also unknown to me at present.
Regal (GB) Regal started as a budget product made by Columbia Records and introduced in May 1914 costing 1/6, rising to 3/- in 1918, before falling to 2/6 in September 1921. It remained at this price until 1931 when it reverted to 1/6. The label colour was initially red, changing to magenta fairly early on. The catalogue series started in a G-6000 range, reaching G-9473 before changing to MR-1 in 1930. A few 12" Regals were issued in a G-1000 series. The label was taken over by EMI in 1932 as part of their purchase of Columbia, when they merged the two cheaper labels of Regal and Zonophone (see below), by which time the numbering had reached MR-744.
Regal Zonophone (GB) Regal Zonophone was the result of EMI's amalgamation of their two cheaper labels in January 1933, at which time the catalogue numbering was at MR-745. Initially there was a mixture of the last few Zonophone masters (in an 0Y-series), but generally the CAR-series started under Columbia's ownership was used right up until the label's demise in November 1949, by which time the catalogue numbers had reached MR-3819. Many American masters were used, initially from US Columbia, but later from Bluebird. Initially the label was a rather bright green and red, but subsequently the green was darkened (see example) and it was a very attractive label. In February 1935, the price was reduced to 1/- and the colour changed to just plain red with gold printing. As is usual with red labels, the gold printing was apt to wear off. The price increased to 1/3 in March 1937 then back up to 1/6 in September 1937.
Regal (USA) Initially an Emerson product, Regal records first appeared in 1921 costing 50c. In 1922, Emerson went into receivership and the final result was that Regal became part of the Plaza Music Company by the end of 1922. Plaza produced phonographs, piano rolls, sheet music etc and Regal became their record production division. A series of matrix numbers starting at 5001 was used and issues started appearing also in Britain on Imperial records, by way of a deal with Crystalate who made them. The two companies became affiliated in 1927 and merged in 1929. In July 1929, Regal became a part of the ARC (American Recording Corporation) group and the label survived until early 1932. The rather plain design was used throughout the life of the label.
Regent (GB)
Regentone (GB)
Rena (GB) The Rena Manufacturing Company was formed in 1908 by Louis Sterling & N. M. Rodkinson. Rena records first appeared in December 1908, costing 1/- and manufactured by Columbia, using their own matrices. The label was gold-on-brown with a catalogue series starting at 1001. The Columbia matrix number was suppressed and only an R- or S- series control number shown. The design subsequently changed to gold-on-blue and in November 1909, Columbia took the company over, retaining the same design, and continuing the 1000-series catalogue numbering. In 1910, the label name changed to Columbia-Rena, the Rena name being dropped for good in 1915, the catalogue number having reached 2584 (the last Columbia-Rena issue).
Reneyphone (Belgium) Reneyphone records were owned by a certain Mr Reney who was from Ghent. The records themselves issued many masters recorded by Polydor in Germany. (My thanks to Michel Tibbaut for the information about the owner of the label)
Rex (GB) "The King Of Records" first appeared in September 1933. It was a quality record at a cheap price (1/-) produced by Crystalate. The catalogue series started at 8001, reaching over 10220 by February 1948 when the last ones appeared. An Irish series sported a suitably green label and a U-series catalogue. The matrix series started (for some reason) at F-500. American masters from ARC were liberally used, generally under pseudonyms such as Hollywood Dance Orchestra or Ed Lloyd and his Band (for dance records). Jay Wilbur was the studio director, but top name bands were also featured, such as Jack Payne, Charlie Kunz, Billy Cotton, Brian Lawrance and Jack Simpson. In March 1937, Decca took over Crystalate and the F- matrix series changed to R- with the same numbering.
Rexophone (GB/Australia)
Robeyphone (GB)
Rondophone (GB)
Romeo (USA) Launched in July 1926, Romeo records were made by the Cameo Record Corp for the S.H. Kress dime store, and the sold for 25c. All were electrically recorded, and all used Cameo maters, though the original master number is often replaced by a control. The catalogue series started at 201. In 1931 it was absorbed into the ARC group, but survived until 1939. Most were issued under pseudonyms, in a fairly random fashion.
Royal (Canada)
Royale (USA) Royale was launched in the autimn of 1939 by Eli Oberstein as a companion label to his Varsity issues. Matrices were in his US-series and catalogue numbers started at 1700 (for 10" issues) and 500 for 12" ones. The label only existed for just over a year. As well as his own masters, there were many re-issues from other companies, in the same way as Varsity.
Rubin (GB) A German-produced label exported to Britain prior to WWI. There are two verions of the label, but the English-titled ones use a catalogue series in the E-100 range.
Salabert (France)
Savana (GB) Savana records were made for Rose, Morris and Company and appear to date, musically, from 1925-27. They were available in 5½", 6" & 10" sizes. The 10" use Crystalate (Imperial) masters and cost 2/- each. The others use (Edison) Bell masters or (again) Crystalate ones. The label designs were identical for all sizes. The 10" used a 1500 series catalogue, the smaller ones use a 3-digit number.
Scala (GB) Scala records first appeared in Britain in 1911, part of the cheap German import invasion which helped drive prices down at the time. They used mainly Beka masters at the time. Following the end of the war, Scala made a re-appearance using the design shown right; this time made in Britain and using masters from Gennett & Vocalion in America and home-produced masters with a CH-prefix. Only the CH- ones which are hand-scribed are genuine Scala matrices. If the number is type-stamped, it is a control number covering a master from English Vocalion. The label was discontinued in 1927 along with many other Vocalion-styled 10" records, when they decided to concentrate on 8" issues. The catalogue numbering started at 100 originally, and the same series used post-war, reaching nearly 900, though some early issues had a 1 in front of the normal catalogue number.
Scala Ideal (GB) This label was produced between 1923 and 1927 and the master pool is similar to the Grafton label (q.v.). Early issues use Federal and Emerson masters from America. Then subsequently, Pathe provided the source material. The catalogue numbers were in a 7000-series and there were just over 200 different records produced in the 4-year period. The records cost 1s 6d.
SD (USA) SD stood for (John) Steiner and (Hugh) Davis and their label was based at 104, East Bellevue, Chicago. As far as I know, the issues consisted of rare 1920s jazz remastered. The issue shown was taken from a vertical-cut Edison re-issue.
Schweizer-Musikhaus (Germany) The example I have of this label is a 7" size using Crystalate masters not otherwise available in England, but destined for Australia.
Siemens (GB) The was a one-off record to advertise SIemens' Opal and Pearl light bulbs. There's a certain amount of mystery about the record, but I would assume it was given away, probably at an exhibition. Although the record is not rare, I've never seen a copy in a special sleeve. The mystery is that it has a catalogue number, which you wouldn't expect for a special issue. The record is of the "unbreakable" format, probably made by Worldecho or Duophone (both q.v.). The band, however, has a Piccadilly label sound to it, so maybe it was a contract recording.
Silvertone (GB)
Silvertone 8" (GB) An 8" record produced by British Homophone for sale in Selfridge's stores, using masters from their Plaza label. The label tells us they were specially selected by Christopher Stone. The records had a catalogue number series starting at S-1, but the series was fairly short-lived.
Silvertone (USA) The various Silvertone labels sold in the United States were all produced for Sears, Roebuck & Co. The first Silvertone records appeared in 1916 and were made by Columbia and were single sided discs. These were discontinued in 1918 and a new double-sided Silvertone, made by Federal, were available from 1919. The familiar tan-coloured label (see example, right) first appeared in the early 1920s and was made by various companies: Columbia (Harmony), Pathe, Regal (Banner), Federal, Emerson, Brunswick and Gennett. The label was finally withdrawn in 1928, to be replaced with Supertone.
Simcha (GB) A short-lived label available in the early 1930s, Simcha drew its masters from Piccadilly, including some American Grey Gull items. Simcha is a Hebrew word meaning Joy or Gladness and is pronounced "Simka" (i.e. with the -ch- prononuced as a -K-.). The records were presumably made for a shop or store, but I don't know which one. The catalogue numbers are in a 10000-series and just over 50 were produced.
Sirena Grand (GB) This was a Russian-produced label made for Export to Britain in and around WWI.
Smith (GB) A very obscure regional label dating from the WWI period. The labels of "Smith" records are subtitled "The Phono King" and hence probably refers to an early record shop. The address on the label is 262, Bramall Lane & Sheaf Market, Sheffield. They were pressed from Grammavox masters and had not catalogue numbers, just using the matrix numbers to refer to each side in a similar manner to German records of the period.
Solex (GB) British Homophone made Solex records. They were initially an 8" disc with a very fine groove, allowing playing time equal to a 10" disc, without getting too near the label. Solex was BH's first 8" disc, being available in 1930 & 1931. Catalogue numbers started logically at 1 and ran to about 70. In 1935, BH revivied the name for a short-lived 10" disc with a catalogue series starting at SX-101.
Sonora (Sweden) The Sonora record was launched in 1932 by Erik Ljungberg as the first totally Swedish record company. By producing  the records in Sweden, they were able to avoid the crippling import duty paid on HMV, Columbia etc. Sonora was, therefore, a quality product at a much cheaper price. The company was very successful, but ceased to be independant in 1958 when the founder died and Sonora was taken over by Philips. More information and label pictures
Soundwave (GB) One of the many pre-WWI labels pressed in Germany for the British market using masters from J. Blum & Co and possibly Polyphon.
Sovereign (GB) A very short-lived and early disc record which appeared in 1907 for a few months, Sovereign were 10" double-sided and used Nicole masters. The labels state they were made by the British Sonogram Company.
Special Editions (USA) This seems to be a specialist label pressed by CBS (Columbia) and dating from the 1940s.
Standard (GB) A rather obscure pre-WWI record label. In fact, there may be two labels, but I don't know if there is any link between them. One was pressed by Edison Bell using their "Bell" masters and the other was a product of the Sound Recording Company. Both companies were using 10¼" masters at the time.
Standard Stavophone (GB) A cheap record (costing 1/1) produced by the Sound Recording Co in 1913.
Stars (GB) The Stars Record was a pre-WWI record made in Germany which used Polyphon masters. Sometimes the label is just a "paste-over" on existing Polyphon or Heraldic records. The reference on the label to "Star artists" may be the first reference to the word "Star" meaning "celebrity".
Stella (GB) Yet another pre-WWI record. This one was produced by the German Kalliope company and, jusging by surviving examples, the company must have run into copyright problems and it is rare to find an Stella-Gramophone Record (to give it its full name) which hasn't been "amended". Some have the word "Gramophone" scratched out, and other have a label printed with "Victory" stuck over the word "Stella". The catalogue numbers have various prefixes, such as A- and C-, followed by a 1, 2 or 3-digit number.
Sterno (GB) Sterno records were produced by the British Homophone Company between 1926 and 1935 as a cheaper equivalent of their Homochord label. The first Sternos are very rare and were recorded & produced by the Gramophone Company to a very high standard. Subsequent records were recorded by BH Co for Sterno and vary enormously in recording quality and surface noise. Almost all used British masters, and later many good dance bands recorded for Sterno, but they sold poorly. More details and pictures and a listing
Sterno Baby (GB) A 6" disc produced by the Gramophone Company in the mid-1920s, using the same masters as "Homo Baby" and "Dixy". Sterno Baby is somewhat rarer than either, with a catalogue series in a 1000 range.
Strong (USA) A rare label dating from 1923. The record was produced by The Strong Record Co Inc (of New York) and recorded their own masters. The company was declared bankrupt in December 1923, having survived less than a year.
Sundquist (Sweden) This was a "private" Swedish record label owned by accordionist Ragnar Sundquist (1892-1951). A very popular and productive musician, Sundquist recorded more than 400 sides for various companies (and toured the US three times, meeting Pietro Frosini whose works he introduced in Sweden), but his own record company turned out to be a short-lived venture. Only five records were issued; six of the ten sides featured Sundquist as a solo performer and the remaining four were duets between his brothers Oscar and Sven Sundquist. All sides were recorded in London in December 1920 by Columbia who also pressed the records. It is not known how they were distributed or how much they cost. The catalogue numbers are SG 6012 to SG 6016. They are probably quite rare. Thanks, as ever, to Fredrik Tersmeden for the scan and the information.
Sunrise (USA) There are two distinct records of this name. The first was a Grey Gull product dating from 1929-1930; the other a budget Victor record dating from 1933-34. Both were very short-lived and are hard to find.
Sunset (USA) The Sunset Record Co was based on Los Angeles and produced their own masters, usually (if not always) acoustically recorded. The records date from 1924-26 and are fairly hard to find.
Supertone (USA) This replacement label for "Silvertone" was produced for Sears, Roebuck & Co used masters from Gennett. There was another Supertone, though and this is the example shown right. This used masters from Pathe and Regal (Banner) and was produced for Straus & Schram of Chicago.
Supraphon (Czech) Supraphon was founded in 1932 but at that time only seems to have used its own name for gramophones. It is not certain when they started making records. Although one of the examples shown mentions being recorded in 1937, it may not have been issued on Supraphon until after the war.Supraphon still exists today and is a leading label in its country, specializing mainly in classical music My thanks to Fredrik Tersmeden for providing the label scans and the details.
Supreme (USA) A short-lived label made by Grey Gull in the late 1920s and into 1930.