The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I recently came upon a rather large hoard of near perfect Edison Diamond Disc records - 90% of them are in near mint playing condition with the original but slightly tattered sleeves. All paper labels. 265 in all. Question: two have the red star labels but only on one side of the record. Is that unusual as the other red star Edisons are red stars on both sides of the labels which I thought was the norm with Edison's slower selling titles, etc. ????

No, it's not unusual. Edison was simply using up whatever stock he had on hand, a practice that was true for the entire run of Diamond Discs. For example, it's not at all uncommon to find an engraved title with two completely different label styles on each side.

Thanks 52089 - now I have found three more Edison Diamond Disc records with small seven digit numbers stamped right through the paper labels - looks like a very deep hot stamp since it seems melted. 745 on one side and 746 on the other side. What was the reason for the extra numbers stamped through the labels?

Wonder if they were originally from Jersey City, NJ as I bought a bunch at an estate sale over the summer but left a ton behind. Almost all were in EXCELLENT condition. Was the estate of a former mortician but they had about 3-4 different Edison machines there as well - perhaps they were an Edison dealer when business was dead (pun intended

These were all bought in the small town of Branchville, New Jersey from an elderly collector.