The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I recently bought some more 78s from my local record shop, along with a Victor Grand Prize record and a Victor Purple label, I found a record made of shellac as brown as an early cylinder. The record label is "Perfect" and it has on one side the California Ramblers. Is this a common label to find? Also why is the record brown rather than black.

Yes, Perfect is a common label. It's part of the Pathé family of labels. Several labels issued their discs on that reddish-brown shellac: Perfect, Vocalion, Domino come to mind, but I'm sure there are many others.

Thanks for the information, so its a Pathé offshoot?

I have one Perfect record, "My Pet" b/b "Ready for the River," with Scrappy Lambert, vocals. It came with my XI. It is indeed brown or reddish-brown. The accompaniment is by the Sam Lanin orchestra. The Lanin family, out of Philadelphia, constituted a kind of early big/swing band dynasty which lasted for many decades beyond the 1920s. Lester Lanin's band was the society band of choice well into the '50s and '60s, if not later.

Henry wrote:I have one Perfect record, "My Pet" b/b "Ready for the River," with Scrappy Lambert, vocals. It came with my XI. It is indeed brown or reddish-brown. The accompaniment is by the Sam Lanin orchestra. The Lanin family, out of Philadelphia, constituted a kind of early big/swing band dynasty which lasted for many decades beyond the 1920s. Lester Lanin's band was the society band of choice well into the '50s and '60s, if not later.

"If not later"? The Lester Lanin organization is still going strong. They provided the (as they call it) "private party music" for my brother's wedding.

The first Pathé lateral cut records were the Actuelle series introduced in 1920. The lower priced Perfect series arrived in 1922 and was available in Europe until the late 1930's.

There was also a rare and obscure Perfect record marketed in the UK between about 1912 to 1915 which had no connection with Pathé.

Uncle Vanya wrote:
"If not later"? The Lester Lanin organization is still going strong. They provided the (as they call it) "private party music" for my brother's wedding.

Glad to hear it. Any employment opportunities for real live musicians (saxophones excepted!) is welcome in these troubled times.