The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Viva-Tonal wrote:And some plants used label stocks sooner than others. In fact my copy of Victor 22227 also has this style of scroll label and it was recorded in November 1929!

When exactly did Victor start to transition away from the label above, anyway?

(I’m still terrible at assigning dates to the various Victor labels.)

— MordEth

That is indeed a neat record I have a copy myself, and a similar item- a 12 inch center start disc demonstrating the Atwater-Kent "Golden Voice" radio. It's probably a Viva tonal recording and is pretty good.

MordEth wrote:

Viva-Tonal wrote:And some plants used label stocks sooner than others. In fact my copy of Victor 22227 also has this style of scroll label and it was recorded in November 1929!

When exactly did Victor start to transition away from the label above, anyway?

(I’m still terrible at assigning dates to the various Victor labels.)

— MordEth

1929 was the year of the 'Victor Talking Machine Division/Radio-victor Corporation of America' version, with 'Orthophonic Recording' in a sharper curve at the top of the label.



1930, and until 1935, the labels state 'RCA Victor Company, Inc./Camden, NJ.' About 1932 'For best results use Victor Needles' was dropped and 'Not Licensed for Radio Broadcast' added in its place.

A 1930 example:



A 1933 example:



1935 to the end in October 1937: The letters VE at the top and bottom of the labels disappear, along with 'Orthophonic Recording'. 'Red Seal Record' appears in the arc formerly occupied by 'Orthophonic....' on those releases, and the name is no longer 'Victrola' on them, as it had been on all scroll Red Seals AFAIK, but is Victor. The company name is changed once again to 'RCA Manufacturing Co., Inc. Camden, N.J. USA.'

A 1936 example:



PS--Glad you all like my dub! Thanks!

Viva-Tonal,

Thanks for posting the examples and the years—while I have seen a lot of the variations, I’m still very bad at remembering the label chronology.

Pictures make it a lot easier to differentiate which label was which.

Thanks again!

— MordEth

You're welcome! (Sorry my pix are not better; I only have a phone camera with which to take digital pictures.)