How old are these Columbia records?

[Timo Gramophone]

Hello,

I have two Columbia 7-inch double sided records. I would like to know how old these are.
I think they look early, but i don't know the precise date.
The label lists grand prize Paris 1900, and grand prize St. Louis 1904.
I'm assuming they were made around 1904, but i always thought that double sided records were introduced in 1908.
Also, i don't know if this record is American or European.

Thanks in advance

- Timo

[FloridaClay]

A very interesting label. I thought I would be able to pull out my copy of "Note the Notes: An Illustrated History of the Columbia Record Label 1901-1958" and find the information, but this label is not there.

Clay

[Kryptosmaster]

Was unable to find that exact label on any of the label sites I have bookmarked but it's design resembles the pre-1908 labels very much.

[Roaring20s]

My Google search came up with this google book.
Recording History: The British Record Industry, 1888-1931 By Peter Martland
It did not include the page that would provide details about Columbia Phonograph Co. Gnl., other than the date June 1903 from a Talking Machine News and 1905 from The Phono Trader and Recorder references.

I also found a sort list of Russian recordings on this label with recording dates from 1903 and 1906.

James.

[Timo Gramophone]

Yes, I also thought that this label was pre-1908. What i don't understand is that double sided records were introduced around 1908, at least that's what i've always thought.
So, if this record is pre-1908, why is it double sided? Was it a experimental series of double sided discs?

[Timo Gramophone]

So, if Russian recordings were released on this label, does this mean that this label was European? Or was it a American label that released recordings for Russians in America?
On one label, the title is also in French, and German, this could mean this label is European.

[FloridaClay]

According to Baumbach's Columbia Phonograph Companion, Volume II, Columbia Phonograph Co. General (whose name appears on this label) was formed in 1894 by merging the assets of the Columbia Phonograph Co. and the American Graphophone Co. It became the sales agent for all machines and records sold under the Columbia name. Columbia introduced the first disc records with music on both sides in 1904.

Clay

[Timo Gramophone]

Okay, so these were probaly released after 1904, that's nice to know.
When did Columbia stop announcing their disc records? I ask this because two of the sides contain a announcement.


- Timo

[neilmack]

Some Russian discs with very similar labels - note the 1903-1906 dates!

http://www.russian-records.com/categori ... cat_id=533

[Timo Gramophone]

Yes, those labels look the same as the labels on my records. Very interesting!
So, i suppose my records must be Russian, i hadn't thought that!
I am assuming these records were released between 1904 and 1906 then.
Thank you for the link to the informative site, neilmack.

-Timo