The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I found my first Victor puzzle record, number 22745, with 6 pieces played by Ray Noble's Orchestra. Each side has three separate grooves, each having a different recorded tune. These records are described in Michael Sherman's collector's guide, but my question is this: Were each of the short pieces recorded direct-to-disc, or dubbed, for convenience's sake? Does anyone know for sure? Thanks!
Bob

They were dubbed. For sure.

I believe they used special feed screws in the lathe- the cutter would make several passes, each time offset to a specific spot. I believe most if not all of the Victor issues were recorded by HMV. Columbia did some on their cheap labels in the 30's

Some of the individual recordings that made up Victor "puzzle" records look to have been recorded in the U.S.


http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/m ... zle_record

http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/index

Speaking of puzzle records I was looking for a blurb about them from early Berliner...which of course I can't find . I did find this , though. It's a scan from the Blue section ( not THAT kind of blue) which appeared in the Berliner /Victor record catalogue of 1918 . It touts yet another puzzle record...from HMV masters. The Blue section was dedicated to the recordings which were only issued in Canada. They came from the HMV studios in Britain and Berliner's own in Montreal.
Before Herbert Berliner left the company in 1921, Canadian buyers had the entire Victor catalogue available to them plus a substantial list of records from Montreal and London.

Jim

Bob,
Congratulations on your first puzzle record. My first was a 12" Victor called the Conundrum. Hopefully your find won't lead you to the excessive lengths that mine did... I now have approx. 50 different puzzle records on various labels...

Lenoirstreetguy wrote:Speaking of puzzle records I was looking for a blurb about them from early Berliner...which of course I can't find . I did find this , though. It's a scan from the Blue section ( not THAT kind of blue) which appeared in the Berliner /Victor record catalogue of 1918 . It touts yet another puzzle record...from HMV masters.
Jim

Jim, I do not know when a generic description of a record player evolved, but they tried to so in this catalog is amusing.
"Every owner of a disc sound producing instrument should procure one of these wonderful records."

James.

James...I'm out of control now. Here's the scan I was looking for yesterday . This is from the 1915 Berliner Catalogue. " Disc sound producing instrument" is quite a mouthful.

Jim

I wonder how well that sold-those selections would only be patriotic in the UK & Canada.

I have two different records with these same titles on different labels: the first, made in 1910 is a British Zonophone Puzzle Plate - the second is a Canadian Berliner puzzle record.