The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

epigramophone wrote: Sat Feb 22, 2025 8:35 am J.G.Windows Ltd have been trading from the same premises in the Central Arcade, Newcastle since 1908.
The Windows family sold the business in 2006, but it is now one of the UK's longest established music stores.

Sadly, Windows closed last November:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgw2ywzqx3o

Thank you Gavin. Sad news, but 116 years in the same premises was quite an achievement.
James Gale Windows (1870-1933) had begun work as a music dealer's assistant in the 19th Century.

Steve, these photos may spur you to more research. I bought a dozen or so records recently, several of which were pressed in England and were in these sleeves.
I wonder if they were brought to Saskatchewan by returning servicemen after the war.

Hoodoo wrote: Sat Feb 22, 2025 3:51 pm Steve, these photos may spur you to more research. I bought a dozen or so records recently, several of which were pressed in England and were in these sleeves.
I wonder if they were brought to Saskatchewan by returning servicemen after the war.

Quite possibly but we'll never know.

Thanks for the pictures. I will look up some of the shops in due course so thank you for keeping me busy!

By far the most interesting of these covers is the one for Peter Wyper & Sons.
Peter Wyper (1861-1920) played the Melodeon and was one of the first, if not the first, musician to record it. He opened the Cadzow Street shop in 1902, and in 1903 his recordings were favourably reviewed in the Talking Machine News.
In 1904 he and his brother Daniel (1872-1947) began producing their own "Empress" cylinders. With no means of duplicating them other than recording into more than one machine, the cylinders were made to order and are extremely rare today.
From 1907 both brothers recorded extensively on disc for the Columbia and later the Regal labels.

The two brass eyelets on the cover suggest that it was designed to fit in an album. Many retailers offered albums free of charge to purchasers of a given number of records.

I have a disc Graphophone type AK. It has an attractive banner transfer for Francis Foot of Pitt Street in the island of Jersey. He was a famous early local photographer and enthusiast of recorded sound. I found photos of the family shop as it was then and now it is a coffee shop. This is now a famous local landmark with the original His Master’s Voice mural still there. I looked for my Graphophone in the interior shot but can’t see it! It’s interesting to think that my machine once passed through there.

The shop as it was in the 1900s.

And now:

I love the Cockleshell Monarch on its pedestal but the photos are great anyway. Many thanks, Jamie.

Fine shot!