Unusual H.M.V. label

[Menophanes]

I recently came across a 12" black-label H.M.V. record, dating I think from the middle 1910s, which has two peculiar features. One is that it is double-sided but retains the original single-sided catalogue numbers (02221 and 02223); I know these 'double-single' records are common in the French and German catalogues from about 1907 onwards, but I do not remember ever seeing a British example before. The other point is the typefaces used for No. 02223, none of which I have seen on any other label; notice particularly the almost mediaeval style used for the words HIS MASTER'S VOICE. This suggests to me that the Hayes factory may have needed a batch of labels at short notice at a time when their usual printer was overbooked or out of action, so that these had to be ordered from a printer who was not normally on the Gramophone Company's visiting-list. Does it follow from this that the Company did not possess a print-shop of its own?

On this side (02223) the embossed catalogue-number in the blank area between grooves and label has a G placed after it. This too is new to me. Can anyone say what it signifies?

Oliver Mundy.

[poodling around]

I recently came across a 12" black-label H.M.V. record, dating I think from the middle 1910s, which has two peculiar features. One is that it is double-sided but retains the original single-sided catalogue numbers (02221 and 02223); I know these 'double-single' records are common in the French and German catalogues from about 1907 onwards, but I do not remember ever seeing a British example before. The other point is the typefaces used for No. 02223, none of which I have seen on any other label; notice particularly the almost mediaeval style used for the words HIS MASTER'S VOICE. This suggests to me that the Hayes factory may have needed a batch of labels at short notice at a time when their usual printer was overbooked or out of action, so that these had to be ordered from a printer who was not normally on the Gramophone Company's visiting-list. Does it follow from this that the Company did not possess a print-shop of its own?

On this side (02223) the embossed catalogue-number in the blank area between grooves and label has a G placed after it. This too is new to me. Can anyone say what it signifies?

Oliver Mundy.

label_hmv_02221.jpg
label_hmv_02223.jpg

I have sheets of uncut HMV labels from June 1909 which clearly state that the labels were printed by 'Harrison's of London' and the gold printing was added 'at the Hanover Factory'.

[epigramophone]

This double sided 10" record bearing single side labels was manufactured by the Calcutta factory.
Curiously 4-2183 is labelled "Hayes, Middlesex, England, while the other side 4-2190 is labelled "Calcutta".
Both sides also bear the "G" suffix which you mention. I do not know it's significance.