The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I noticed on my Columbia Records that there are numbers stamped in light ink next to the label. As far as I can tell the have nothing to do with the matrix number, and these numbers only seem to be on Columbia "Magic Note" label records, as I have yet to detect them on the later blue label Columbias.
Perhaps this is something that is common knowledge, but I am genuinely curious as to what these numbers connote. Does anybody have any ideas?

-Steve

thanks for posting these pictures! I always carefully scrutinize the runout of records for data, but I don't believe I've ever seen a Magic Notes-era Columbia with these ink stamped numbers. I will keep my eye out for them. But I don't have a clue as to what they are. Could they have been indicators of a record collector'sfiling system, and stamped on the runout by the owner long ago?

Best wishes, Mark

I have Columbias with those numbers also. I don't think they are ink, I tried rubbing them off, I wonder if they are some sort of light etching?
Do you think they might be some sort of lot/inventory number?

howardpgh wrote:Do you think they might be some sort of lot/inventory number?

That is a good question. I have found this original single sided Columbia Disc with its original sleeve. As you can see it has 206 written next to the label and well as the sleeve. Also, these Magic notes label Columbia records which have these numbers on them have come from all over the country, so I don't think it is a regional thing or from someone's collection.

-Steve

In regard to the Columbia in the red sleeve, I purchased about thirty of those on eBay, recently. Each had a different number. Perhaps the original buyer simply marked each of them as part of a personal numbering system.

That recent lot of Columbias was probably the nicest, condition-wise, that I've ever seen for single-sided records. A nice way to end the year!