Is this a picture record 78?

[antique1973]

Can anyone recognize this picture record please? Its kind of far from my house
so I want to make sure its a 78 instead of vinyl before going over there. Thanks
for any info.

[Kirkwood]

Pic is of Rudy Vallee, it's the back of a Hit-of-the-Week paper/cardboard disc. Probably 1930-31, and I have that disc but can't remember which tune is on the other side. Not really a "picture disc" as I'd call it, not like the Vogue discs.

[JohnM]

Those were made by Durium Corp. and were sold at newsstands with new titles released every Thursday. I believe they cost a quarter. Many different artists were pictured on the reverse -- Erno Rappee, Vernon Dalhart, etc. Some have great announcements towards the end. Some have two tracks. They all sound nice and electric if in good shape. Don't use steel needles.

[bbphonoguy]

How did estott get his picture on a record!?!?

[syncopeter]

Estott (or Rudy Vallee as he was known back then ) must have been on many HOW's, but he was for sure on "The wooden soldier and the china doll". Quite a few HOW's had either portraits, lyrics or advertising texts printed on their backs. Provided the surface isn't cracked they can sound remarkably well. Don't ever use a steel needle, because that will ruin them in one go. They were destined to last just one week (i.e. weekend) anyhow, so it's a miracle so many are still around in playable condition.
There also was a British series issued under the 'Durium' label which is well worth looking for. Good dance bands, many with Al Bowlly vocals, quite a few hot solos. Great fun.

[estott]

I'll take some exception on the statement that a steel needle will ruin these. I wouldn't play one of the rare issues with steel, but when these were made that's what they used- the Durium company sold steel needles and even a "Durium" branded portable phonograph. On a properly operating machine with a fresh needle these play remarkably well and I see no problem with using the common ones or slightly worn ones with steel.

[antique1973]

Thanks for all the great info guys! I was hoping for a Vogue disc since I have not
run across any yet. One of these days...

[Marco Gilardetti]

I am a bit confused as I thought Durium was an italian brand. Their production began in 1935, and their cardboard records are generally associated to Mussolini's autarchism of the mid '30s and the research of local supply of producing materials and general savings in all industrial activities (although it may not be necessarily so, perhaps it's coincidental). I have many of these records, mainly tales for children, tunes of the times, and also english lessons.

The brand operated in Italy until the end of the '80s.

This is the first time that I hear about a UK-based Durium. The records look identical to the italian ones. Does anyone know which connection there was among the two brands?

[gramophoneshane]

We also pressed Durium discs here in Australia. They were pressed by ARC (Australian Record Co) for Durium of Italy. The rather poor scan of the label below, I believe dates from the early 1950s.
I cant locate the box the record is in at the moment, but when I find it I'll edit this post and replace the scan with a bigger clearer photo.

[estott]

The Durium company sold "Hit of the Week" records in the US. When American pressings were sold abroad they were labeled Durium, and in some cases the original printed labels were removed with solvent and reprinted. The foreign distributors also recorded their own material- a notable example being the UK Durium record of "Let's All Be Fairies". The US company eventually failed (the concept of selling weekly records at newsstands didn't provide enough income and they had trouble hiring well known bands in the later years) but foreign branches using the patented process had a longer life.