Why were early records only recorded on one side?

[phonogfp]

After settling the dispute with Frederic Prescott about the Petit patent, the Gramophone Co., from March 1905, also manufactured double-sided records.

I'm no authority on European/English record production, but I was surprised to learn this!

George P.

[victorIIvictor]

Thanks to George Paul and Starkton for your informative posts.

Best wishes, Mark

[Sidewinder]

My father always said it was because you could sell twice as many recordings!

Twin Records made it very obvious they were selling double sided records, though I doubt they were the first company to do so.

[epigramophone]

Twins were the first double sided disc records to be sold, anonymously, by The Gramophone Company in the UK. They were introduced in 1908 in response to the German made double sided imports which had been selling in the UK since 1905. From 1911 records from the Twin catalogue were pressed as Zonophones, but the Twin label was later revived for some overseas markets.