The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Posted this question a few months ago, however haven't solved the riddle. Purchased a Victor record from 1904, Burt Shepard, A Boy and the Cheese. The number on the record is just 7, no letter prefix before it. Does any one know why the single digit and nothing else. We're these early records numbered a bit differently, with no letter prefix ?

Thanks everyone.

The prefix was dropped quite early on, especially for 10-inch records. But well into the acoustic era, Victor would re-record the same titles, sometimes even with different artists, under the same number. I don't have any quite that low but I have 54 (Blue Bells of Scotland) and 94 (The Holy City) both with patent labels dated 1907 on the back.