Gramophone Co Ltd - Metal record carrying cases

[poodling around]

I always thought these are quiet rar and I‘am surprised that many of members here have one or two.

Still I think they look very fine and are rar in good and complete condition!

I have one made by/for Electrola and it really is the only one known to still exist and I asked several big collectors which were delighted by this early record case, which they have never seen.

My one has still the old and first Electrola Decal used only in 1926 as they started business.
Adverts are quiet rar for these.
At least I have a price list from 1929 which mentions it called „Plako“ (short Version of PLattenKOffer = record case) and sold for 20 RM (a normal one from a department store costed around 6-8 RM) !
It is missing in the Price List of 1932

There also was another later version by HMV as mentioned, but this seems even much rarer.

BTW: Some sleeves are missing in my one - has anyone some spare ones for sale? Would very appreciate it!

Wow ! I really do like your metal record case and other Electrola gramophone items ! Fantastic to see your photographs.

I find it really interesting that the 'Electrola logo' on yours is far bigger than the 'Gramophone Company logo' on mine and also in a different position !

Perhaps the electrola one is far more rare than the Gramophone Co one. I suspect that both are rare in their own way though.

Which sleeve(s) are you missing I wonder ?

[epigramophone]

The early Electrola logo was also used on their record labels. I prefer it to the later design.

[merrysick]

It's interesting that you have those metal record carrying cases from the Gramophone Co Ltd. They are indeed quite sturdy and over-engineered compared to the more common leatherette cases. They likely date back to the 1920s. If anyone has more information on these cases, I'd love to learn more about them.

[flying500]

Here are a couple of photos of my Decca case.
Its a shame that they dont 'hunt in pairs'

[Curt A]

"I have one made by/for Electrola and it really is the only one known to still exist..."

Just wondering - if you have the only one in existence, where would you expect to find more sleeves/folders?
Why not make your own based on the originals you have?

[drh]

The early Electrola logo was also used on their record labels. I prefer it to the later design.

Rather reminiscent of Edison's "Echo All Over the World."

[NEKTREG]

I find it really interesting that the 'Electrola logo' on yours is far bigger than the 'Gramophone Company logo' on mine and also in a different position !


Which sleeve(s) are you missing I wonder ?

Thank you!
The globe label was only used in the very first year of Electrola in 1926. I once was told the globe decal and the following golden decal were that big because they could past over HMV machines which were already finished. But if that is true?

The sleeves which were in there (see my photo above) are incomplete.
There are missing:
No.1
No.2
Both No.6
and one No.8

Just wondering - if you have the only one in existence, where would you expect to find more sleeves/folders?
Why not make your own based on the originals you have?

Expect for the Sleeve No.1 they seem identical to the HMV ones.
Basically there are just paper sleeves with numbers on them. It sure would be easy to make some new ones to use them, but as I only use it as a show piece I would prefer it incomplete as with new not original sleeves. At least there are some of them stil there and not missing completely like in many cases!

[Inigo]

The Gramophone Co. carrying case prior to 1925 was that 'album malette' that they advertised in the record sleeves of the era. Once I must do a survey across my collection of old sleeves and write s post about them... Nice old sleeves...

[poodling around]

The Gramophone Co. carrying case prior to 1925 was that 'album malette' that they advertised in the record sleeves of the era. Once I must do a survey across my collection of old sleeves and write s post about them... Nice old sleeves...

That would be great to see Inigo.

What does 'album malette' mean though please ? (Sorry if I missed some-thing obvious with this).

[Inigo]

Here goes the ALBUM MALETA, badly translated by me as ALBUM MALETTE when it must be ALBUM SUITCASE
It's a scan of a page of spanish Gramófono catalogue for 1922. I have never seen this in a british catalogue...

Gramofono album maleta.jpeg

And as promised, herein is the link to the first example of old spanish Gramófono envelopes: viewtopic.php?p=336440#p336440
Tha one also advertised the ALBUM MALETA!