Category: 78 Record

The 78 Records Project Series Introduction

This series attempts to create information for records that would’ve been around for any adult living during World War Two. The age range will be from 1900 to 1945.

About the 78 Record Project Series:

Collecting 78 Records is a recent hobby of mine. I enjoy going into antique stores and finding 78 Records and playing them on my record player. There is just something enjoyable about listening to the snaps, crackles, and pops on vintage record players that digital cannot capture. I think for me, it is the connection to the past. That shared experience of selecting a record, setting it, adjusting the needle, and playing it that digital music lacks. Digitized music can come across as impersonal (after all, it is nothing but 1s and 0s), whereas music in a physical format is deeply personal.

Project Purpose and Organization:
The purpose of this article is to provide historical reenactors with some basic information regarding period-correct records. The idea is to give a reenactor who may not know enough about records some “rules of the record” to visually identify a period-correct record.

This project series will be organized around record labels. It will focus more on the common record companies before and during World War II. Any record from any company (including some of the smaller record companies/labels and the companies/labels that were defunct by WW2) could have been played on a player. Budget labels and older-named labels will be included where relevant.

The labels of this project will include only the following 78 Record Labels:

V-DISC	OKEH	DECCA and CORAL	BLUEBIRD	COLUMBIA RECORDS
CLARION	HARMONY	VELVET TONE	CAPITOL	Store Brands: MONTGOMERY WARD and SEARS Brands

EMERSON	MELOTONE	ORIOLE	PARAMOUNT/BLACK SWAN/BROADWAY	PATHE/ACTUELLE
STARR	PERFECT	HARVARD/OXFORD /SILVERTONE /SUPERTONE	CHALLENGE	CONQUEROR
AEOLIAN-VOCALION	BRUNSWICK	GENNETT	Aladdin (founded Aug 1945 as Philo records)	CHAMPION
Exclusive	King	London (post-war)	Bibletone	Dot (Post-war)
VICTOR/TIMELY TUNES/ELECTRADISK	BUDDY	POST WORLD WAR TWO: MERCURY	POST WORLD WAR TWO: MGM	EARLY ROCK AND ROLL 78s: CHESS, SUN, VEEJAY RECORDS
Grey Gull / Radiex / Supreme / Van Dyke	Keynote Records	KKK/100%/Special Records	Cameo/Lincoln/Romeo	Copley (Post War)

4-Star Records (Post War)	Banner Records	Peerless Records (out of Mexico)	Musicraft	Aladdin (founded Aug 1945 as Philo Records)
Stinson Records

The article will not cover musicians or bands unless mentioned specifically. This article will not cover Edison discs or cylinders, as Edison records require a specific Edison player rather than a generic record player. This article does not cover Canadian, British, or other European 78 record labels and companies unless relevant. The dates for the record label and the catalog numbering of the records are not designed to be completely accurate, but provide a general time frame.

Finally, I will cover some Post-World War II records, as they have a tendency to be grouped together with Pre-World War II records. This is an important consideration as the discerning historical reenactor may seek to exclude those that are beyond the dates of World War II (1939-1945).

For a brief historical narrative of the US record industry between 1925-1950, as well as a survey of retail pricin,g see: THE U.S. RECORD INDUSTRY AND THE RETAIL PRICE OF POPULAR RECORDS, 1925-50 by Steven Lasker, who helps run the Vintage Jazz Mart website.

Below is a link that describes how the records were made, along with notes for anyone interested in collecting 78s.

78 PRODUCTION “HOW IT WAS MADE”

COLLECTORS NOTES

Posted on February 26, 2015March 14, 2023 by Pat Costa — 1 Comment

Conqueror Record Label

Produced from 1926-March 1942 exclusively for Sears at a price of 39 cents. Designed as an expensive label to complement the Silvertone, Supertone, and Challenge labels. Pressed by Regal Record Company from 1926-June 1929 and then pressed American Record Company (ARC) from 1929 onward. When ARC took over the pressing, they dropped all mention of Sears on the record.

The trumpeters were removed in 1934 and replaced by a simplified shield design. When ARC was bought by CBS in 1938, CBS kept the Conqueror label and packaged the label in sets. In the label’s final days (1938-1942) the Conqueror’s shield appeared as black rather than red. Many of Conqueror’s artists used pseudonyms and because Sears was at various times contracting three different record companies to produce music and those record companies often drew from the same catalogs or master records there is considerable duplication of music. However, some records may be alternate takes, and records produced after the 1938 acquisition tended to be artists from the CBS catalogs.

Music Genres: Country, Jazz, Blues, Swing, Pop.

Pre-WW2 Label: Red background with decorative rim and trumpeters.

Record Label: 1929-1934. Note the absence of Sears. May be in red or orange. — Conqueror Record Label: 1929-1934. Note the absence of Sears. It may be in red or orange. This indicates it was made by ARC.

From 1934-1938 the record label has a basic red shield without the trumpeters.

Record Label: 1934-1938. Red color with shield. Notice the lack of trumpeters.

1941-1945 Label: After being bought by CBS, the label switched to being all-black.

Post-WW2 Label: None.

Numbers from start to 1945: 7000-10000. Numbers 7254-7277 are race and country artists.

Notes: Famous artists found on this record label include: Big Bill Broonzy, Lucille Bogan (aka: Bessie Jackson), Amos Easton aka Bumble Bee Slim, Lil Johnson, and Memphis Minnie. Other important artists include Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, and Gene Autry.

Listen to Dear Old Western Skies by Gene Autry on a 1934 Conqueror Record.

Listen to My Gage is going up by Memphis Minnie on a Conqueror Record most likely from the early 1930s.

Sources:
http://www.mainspringpress.com/sears-labels.html

Rust, Brian. The American Record Label Book. Arlington House Publishers, NY. 1978.

Sutton, Nauck. American Record Labels and Companies: An Encyclopedia (1891-1943). Mainspring Press, CO.2000.

The Blues Encyclopedia

Country Music Records: A Discography, 1921-1942

Posted on February 26, 2015March 13, 2023 by Pat Costa — 1 Comment

Challenge Records

Challenge Records by Sears

The Challenge record label was a budget label for Sears. It was produced from 1926-1930. It was pressed by the Starr Piano Company and would duplicate recordings found on Gennett and Champion records. Most were of anonymous recordings.

The Challenge Label sold for 24 cents and is generally of inferior quality. Starr struggled to produce records and, in its final years, Sears used The Scranton Button Company to press the records using master records from Plaza Music Company.

Music Genres: Waltz, orchestra, race records, blues, country, popular, reprints of Gennett and Champion records.

Pre-WW2 Label: This was the only label design for the record production: 1926-1930. Green and Gold with a Knight in Armor imagery. Note: Wikipedia for some reason has the record below but in black and white which is inaccurate.

1939-1945 Label: None by Sears

Post-WW2 Label: None by Sears.

Numbers from start to 1945: 101-810
The Challenge Label has an unknown number of recordings but the series consists of 3 digits.

101–271, 301–431, 501–506 = Gennett

532–698, 763–793, 811–999 = Plaza and successor American Record Corporation;

700–760 and 801–810 = Miscellaneous sources

Note: Many of the country artists were pseudonyms.

Sources:

http://www.mainspringpress.com/sears-labels.html

Country Music Records: A Discography, 1921-1942

Posted on February 21, 2015July 3, 2025 by Pat Costa — 2 Comments

Supertone Records

Supertone (1924; 1928-mid 1931) by Sears

Supertone was a record label made for Sears. It was marketed as a higher-quality label and replaced the Silvertone. Supertone was introduced in 1924 and discontinued in the same year. The 1924 series of Supertones were made by the Fletcher Record Company and are the rarer of the two label designs. Supertone would re-emerge in mid-1928 and last until 1931. From 1928-to 1931 over 800 records were issued. The 1928-1931 labels were black with the words “Super Electrically Recorded” in block letters below the shield. This meant that the recording artist used a microphone to record the sound rather than play it into a horn.

About halfway through the series the reference to Sears, Roebuck, and Co was replaced by the words “Licensed RCA Photophone Recording”. These Supertone labels were pressed by Starr Piano Company until 1931. Many of the Starr-produced recordings were done under artist pseudonyms. In the final year of the Supertone Record label, Sears switched record manufacturers from Starr to Brunswick Radio Corporation. These new Supertones had an S-prefix before the record number. Like the early Fletcher made Supertone records, these Brunswick Supertones are rare too. Supertone Records were discontinued in 1931 by the Great Depression and the desire for Sears to bring back the Silvertone Label.

Music Genres: Band, Waltz, Orchestra, band, jazz, blues, Midwestern dance.

Numbers from start to 1945: 1000-9000

Pre-World War II Label:

The artist on this label, below, is the Miami Syncopators – You can take me away from Dixie (but you can’t take Dixie from me) 1502-A. The Miami Syncopators were a pseudonym for Harry Reser and his Orchestra.

Supertone Record Label: 1924. This label design lasted only one year. A white, gold, and black design. Note the Sears phrase at the bottom.

The artist below is Gene Autry (as known as the Singing Cowboy) In the Shadow of the Pine 9704-B.

Supertone Record gene-autry — Supertone Record Label 1928-1931. Produced by Starr Piano Company. Note the” Licensed RCA Photophone Recording” phrase at the bottom. A gold and black design.

Sometimes this song is referred to as In the Shadow of the Old Pine Tree:

The final Supertone Label is an artist called Buell Kazee, A Mountain Boy Makes his First Record-Part 1 S-2084.

Supertone Record Label by Brunswick Radio. Produced in mid-1931. — Supertone Record Label by Brunswick Radio Corporation. Produced in mid-1931. Note the “S” prefix and the Brunswick Radio Corp phrase at the bottom.

You can listen to the song by clicking the link below:

Buell H. Kazee A Mountain Boy makes his First Record-Part 1

Sources:
-Rust, Brian. The American Record Label Book. Arlington House Publishers, NY. 1978.
-Sutton, Nauck. American Record Labels and Companies: An Encyclopedia (1891-1943).Mainspring Press, CO.2000.
–http://www.mainspringpress.com/sears-labels.html

Posted on February 17, 2015July 3, 2025 by Pat Costa — 1 Comment

Silvertone Records

Silvertone Record Label (1916-1950) by Sears

Silvertone records would replace the Oxford line of records in 1916. These early Silvertone records had an orange background and were produced and pressed by Columbia Records. In 1917, Silvertone changed the label background to purple with block lettering. However, one year later, in 1918 Sears would discontinue the Silvertone line. Though, it would re-emerge in 1919 with a new silver and blue label. These labels were produced and pressed by Federal Records. After a fire at the plant, Sears would create a new tan label in the early/mid-1920s and used many suppliers including Columbia, Starr, Brunswick, Emerson, and Pathe. These tan labels contain rare anonymous recordings.

Silvertone would be discontinued again in mid-1928. Sears would eventually replace the Silvertone label with a Supertone label (produced and pressed by Starr Piano Company) in the 1930s. Silvertone would re-emerge as a label for Sears in 1940 and be discontinued one year later, in 1941. The 1940-1941 Silvertone was produced and pressed by Columbia Record Corporation. Silvertone would come back one last time in 1950. These were red Vinylite pressings produced, this time, by Mercury Records. Sears would go on to produce the Challenge budget record label from 1926-to 1930 and a more expensive line called Conqueror from 1928-to 1942.

Most of the records made for Sears were duplicate recordings, reprints of existing catalog numbers, or anonymous recordings. Some of the records produced for Sears under the Silvertone label were alternate recordings. These are especially rare and valuable.

Music Genres: Band, Waltz, Orchestra, Band, Jazz, Blues.

Pre-1941 Labels: Orange, purple, tan, or blue in color. Silvertone in block or scripted lettering. An image of a piper with a two-person audience or just the piper appeared on pre-1920 labels.

While not on the Silvertone label: When the Lusitania Went Down, 1915 of which the lyrics can be seen at that link.

Silvertone Record Label Late 1917 — Silvertone Record Label late 1917. Purple with gold lettering. Made by Columbia Records

Silvertone mid 1920s — Silvertone’s blue and scripted lettering label. Produced by Federal from 1918/1919-1924

World War II Label: Scripted lettering and blue background with the piper image replaced with an SR (Sears and Roebuck) logo at the top.

Silvertone1940-1941 — Silvertone 1940-1941. Brought back by Sears. Mainly produced by Columbia.

Post World War II Label: Scripted blue lettering on a white background.

Silvertone Post-WW2 1950. Produced by Mercury for Sears on red vinyl.

As an example of what the post-WW2 Silvertone sounds like: Stardust by Glenn Osser in 1950.

Numbers from start to 1945: #200-25000.

Sources:

http://www.mainspringpress.com/sears-labels.html

Rust, Brian. The American Record Label Book. Arlington House Publishers, NY. 1978.

Sutton, Nauck. American Record Labels and Companies: An Encyclopedia (1891-1943). Mainspring Press, CO.2000.

Posted on February 15, 2015April 30, 2024 by Pat Costa — 1 Comment

Oxford Record Label

1906 El Capitan March. 7in. disc. Probably made by Columbia

Oxford Record Label (1906-1916)

The Oxford Record Label was a Sears label that came after Sears’ discontinuation of their Harvard Label. They are single-sided and can be found as either a 7in. disc or a 10in. disc. At the start, Sears used Leeds and Catlin from 1906-1908 to produce the record, switched to Columbia from 1908-1909, then to Victor (using their Zon-o-phone masters) between 1909-1911, and then back to Columbia between 1911-1916. Indeed, Columbia continued to produce for Sears under the Oxford label a 7in. disc while Victor produced a 10in. disc. Recordings are mostly anonymous For an excellent review of the Oxford label see the sources below.

Music Genres: Waltz, Black or “Coon” music, Orchestra, Marches, Operettas.

Pre World War II Label: Purple with Oxford in a scripted style.

1908 Negro Laughing Song. Probably made by Victor using Zonophone masters. — 1908 Negro Laughing Song by George W. Johnson. Probably made by Victor using Zonophone masters.

While not an Oxford Label it is an example of the Negro Laughing Song by George W. Johnson who was the first African-American to sing on a record.

Leg of Mutton Oxford Record label 36773 — Leg of Mutton Le Gigot. 12in. Oxford Record Label #36773. Probably made by Columbia in the early 1910s.

Leg of Mutton Le Gigot, 1913.

Numbers to 1945: Columbia will switch to a new label called Silvertone in 1915/1916.

1-1000 (by Columbia, Zonophone)	1000-2000 (by Columbia, Zonophone)
3000 – 5000 (by Columbia)	5000 (by Zonophone)

Sources:
http://www.mainspringpress.com/sears-labels.html

Posted on February 14, 2015March 13, 2023 by Pat Costa — 1 Comment

Harvard Record Labels

Harvard Record Labels (1905-1907)

Harvard Records was a 78 record label sold exclusively by Sears. Columbia Records originally produced the record. The catalog numbers were similar to Columbia master catalogs. The Harvard Record Label used anonymous recordings. The records came in either 7in. or 10in. sizes.

Music Genres: Waltz, Patriotic, Orchestra, Comedic, Folk Songs, Black or “Coon” songs. (The Harvard Record label and Sears sold music that exemplified the time. Such musical lyrics that stereotyped dialects would be unacceptable today)

Pre-1941 Label: Plan label with blue lettering.

Harvard Disc Record. Courtesy of http://www.78rpm.net.nz

Uncle Josh was the pseudonym for Cal Stewart, a vaudeville actor that made the transition into sound. He is known for comedic narratives. While not on a Harvard Disc the recording below is indicative of Cal’s comedic style.

Another example of the early Harvard Disc Record label.

I Never Trouble Trouble until Trouble Troubles Me — I Never Trouble Trouble Until Trouble Troubles Me by Baritone and Tenor Duet

Not on a Harvard Record label but it demonstrates what the duet sounded like. You can note the same catalog number as the Harvard disc above. This was due to the fact that Harvard pulled from the master catalog of Columbia. Indeed, it appears the Peerless Disc Record did as well.

The Harvard Record label went through a label re-design in late 1906 or early 1907. This new design featured a collegiate pennant and lettering in orange.

World War Two Label: None. The label did not exist

Sources:

http://www.mainspringpress.com/sears-labels.html

Posted on February 10, 2015April 30, 2024 by Pat Costa

Montgomery Ward Records

Montgomery Ward Records (1933-1941)

Sold through Montgomery Ward’s catalog. Contracted pressing of records and licensing to Decca, RCA, Columbia, Victor, Bluebird, and others. These records could be found in their stores or in their catalogs.

Music Genres: Country, Pop, Blues, Western, Mexican, Swing.

1933-1941: Record Label

Montgomery Ward Record Label: Pre-WW2. Black or dark blue coloring always with gold. Note the design of semi-circles.

Montgomery Ward Record: Produced in 1934

Cartwright Brothers on Montgomery Ward.

1941-1945s Label: None

Post-WW2 Label: None

Numbers from start to 1945: 1000-10173

Notes: 6000 is their light classical series.

Sources:

Catalog Listing: http://www.78discography.com/

Rust, Brian. The American Record Label Book. Arlington House Publishers, NY. 1978.

Sutton, Nauck. American Record Labels and Companies: An Encyclopedia (1891-1943).Mainspring Press, CO.2000.

Music Genres: Country, Pop, Blues, Western, Mexican, Swing

Posted on November 27, 2014July 3, 2025 by Pat Costa

Capitol Records

Capitol Records (1942-present)

Founded by Johnny Mercer in 1942 and Buddy DeSylva. Capitol Records would go on to buy the Scranton,PA Record Company (formerly known as the Scranton Button Company Plant) in 1946. The Scranton Record Company has its unique history of strikes and Beatlemania as well as a wonderful Facebook page that documents it all.

Capitol Records would introduce LPs and 45s in the late 1940s. Capitol would be bought by Electrical and Musical Instruments (EMI) a European conglomerate in 1956.

Posted on November 23, 2014July 3, 2025 by Pat Costa

Velvet Tone Records

Velvet Tone Records (1925-1932)

Velvet Tone was introduced in 1925 by Columbia as a budget label. It was discontinued in 1932. The label recorded 1,500 records and focused mainly on pseudonymous performances by Columbia stars and miscellaneous free-lance musicians. The exception was that in 1930 a 7000 series was introduced devoted to blues and race items. The label relied on acoustic recordings rather than the newer technology of electrical recordings.

Sources
—http://www.columbiarecords.com/timeline/#!date=1893-09-14_09:55:12!
—http://lp-originales.info/documents/online_editable_page_1.php
–Rust, Brian. The American Record Label Book. Arlington House Publishers, NY. 1978.
–Sutton, Nauck. American Record Labels and Companies: An Encyclopedia (1891-1943). Mainspring Press, CO.2000.

Posted on November 22, 2014July 3, 2025 by Pat Costa

Harmony Records

Harmony Records (1925-1932)

Columbia introduced Harmony as a budget label in Sept. 1925. It was discontinued in June 1932. Between 1925 and 1932, Harmony focused mainly on pseudonymous performances by Columbia stars. Harmony was priced at 50 cents mainly because the Harmony label did not record in the electrical recording technology. In the summer of 1949, CBS will revive the Harmony label in a puce color but will discontinue it by early 1950 after only about 100 reissues of Columbia material. By mid-1957 CBS will introduce a new redesigned Harmony label in a 45 format and LP format.

Conqueror Record Label

Challenge Records by Sears

Supertone (1924; 1928-mid 1931) by Sears

Silvertone Record Label (1916-1950) by Sears

Oxford Record Label (1906-1916)

Harvard Record Labels (1905-1907)

Montgomery Ward Records (1933-1941)

Capitol Records (1942-present)

Velvet Tone Records (1925-1932)

Harmony Records (1925-1932)

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