Early Orthophonic Batwing

[winsleydale]

I have a Batwing record that was recorded in December of 1925 and sounds very electric to me, but does not say "Orthophonic" next to the spindle hole. Is it indeed electric, or just very nice acoustic? The record is catalog #78490, Ach! du lieber Augustin! b/b Schnitzelbank by the International Novelty Quartet.

[52089]

Take a look in the runoff area and see if you see the "VE" anywhere. The first electrics did not have the scroll label, but did have the VE in the dead wax.

[winsleydale]

Sure enough, there is a little VE there! Thanks for the help. I was originally confused because I thought that the early electrics that were still on the batwing label at least said Orthophonic on the label, but mine didn't. But, now I know for sure!

[winsleydale]

Incidentally, I also just discovered a little VE on my copy of Kinky Kids' Parade/Happy Go Lucky Days from 1926, also a batwing but sounds very acoustic.

[Springmotor70]

You will almost always fine the VE in an oval near the top of the label. Later the mark changed VE in side a diamond in the 30s when the cutter head changed.

Columbia recordings are marked with a W in a circle for Westinghouse Electric recording. Both Victor and Columbia were recording electrically for months in 1925 before telling the public so that they could move more acoustic before introducing the new records and machines in the fall.

Columbia changed the new process label to the black label without the Viva Tonal markings - some of them are electric, some are not.

Electric Batwings are very plentiful and represent some great recordings - many of my favorites!
There are also "Orthophonic Batwings" from Canada. They kept the similar batwing design and added the orthophonic wording..