The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

When Edison started putting paper labels on Diamond Discs in late 1921, they did not appear on every title. At first they were only used on "flashes", which were the records Edison thought would be big hits. Engraved labels and paper labels were both used (on different titles) through 1921 until the "checkerboard" label became standard.

I know that 50813 was the lowest number that was never issued on an engraved label, and that the first paper label occurs sporadically through the 50800 range, as high as 50890. Does anybody know what the highest number engraved label is?

For what it's worth, the highest number etched label record from the popular series in my collection is 50860, which was also issued with paper label as well. I also have an etched label record with 50951 on one side and 50945 on the flip side. This appears to be a test pressing.

Gatyam wrote:For what it's worth, the highest number etched label record from the popular series in my collection is 50860, which was also issued with paper label as well. I also have an etched label record with 50951 on one side and 50945 on the flip side. This appears to be a test pressing.

I don't have any etched discs in that range. However, since 50890 was definitely issued on the first paper label, etched labels go up to at least 50889. I do wonder if etched labels exist above that number though.

According to Wile, the first paper label was 50818 in June, 1921. Your inquiry spurred me to look back at the last few catalogs from a well-known record auction. The last five auctions have collectively contained what was described as a near complete collection of DD records. The highest etched label number listed in any of those auctions was 50859.

They probably prepared them all with the engraved labels, and applied paper as they came from the printer. The last issued engraved label was purely by chance.

Gatyam wrote:According to Wile, the first paper label was 50818 in June, 1921. Your inquiry spurred me to look back at the last few catalogs from a well-known record auction. The last five auctions have collectively contained what was described as a near complete collection of DD records. The highest etched label number listed in any of those auctions was 50859.

50818 would have been a typo, since 50813 was definitely issued on a paper label. I own a copy and can post a scan if you like. 50818 appears to have been the second paper label disc.

The 50859 number is interesting, because if that's true, it implies that Edison used the first paper label and the "regular" one concurrently, which makes no sense and contradicts other research. I will have to keep my eyes open for more info.

Yes, I believe 50813 was issued with the "transition" black paper label. It should be noted that many records that first came out on etched label were later re-released with paper labels (for what it's worth).

Gatyam wrote:Yes, I believe 50813 was issued with the "transition" black paper label. It should be noted that many records that first came out on etched label were later re-released with paper labels (for what it's worth).

Right. What you're calling the "transition" paper label - white letters on a black background - was the first paper label, used sporadically on about 20 issues between 50813 and 50890 (plus 80702). The other 58 numbers in that range, at least theoretically, should have been issued with an etched label, assuming that the "checkerboard" label didn't come out until all of the "first label" titles were done. However, that assumption may now prove to be incorrect.

Perhaps Edison started using the "checkerboard" label concurrently with the later "first label" titles? I know of at least 9 "first label" titles with numbers higher than 50860, but if there are truly no etched titles above that number, then some previous research will have to be updated.

And yes, many of the etched titles were reissued with paper labels since many of those titles survived to the end of the Diamond Disc in 1929.