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Never judge a book (or record storage album) by its cover!!!

I recently bought this interesting, twelve-inch, eleven-sleeve, Peerless record album from a collector/friend. Since this is a piece of advertising (for a phonograph dealer and other assorted businesses), I decided to post this in the "Machines" category --- I hope that is alright.

Despite the fact the indexes printed on the inside of the front and back covers each provide spaces for 12 records, there are only 11 (eleven) sleeves in this album!!! I see no evidence of there ever having been a twelfth sleeve which has gone missing! 11 different Racine, Wisconsin area businesses are advertised on the individual sleeves of this album --- both sides of a sleeve depict the exact same "copy" advertising the same business. A portion of the print on each page urges the owner of the album to use a coupon found in the back of the book (looks like a previous owner of this book was thrifty and used all of the coupons ). I believe remnants of adhesive and paper of the missing coupon page(s) can be seen in the last photo (on the inside of the spine).

I assume the makers of Peerless record storage albums made similar albums for other areas of the country. Does anyone have other examples they'd be willing to share?

Thanks,
Bob

Fascinating piece. I particularly like the 3-digit phone numbers!

I've never seen anything like it.
A very unique item for your collection.

James.

Very interesting - - I've never seen anything like it either. It seems like a great idea; I'm surprised it wasn't a widespread practice.

Thanks for posting this, Bob!

George P.

Very interesting and probably very rare. Thanks for sharing! One more thing on my list of things to find...

"GRANT"
"Racine's Largest Furniture Store"

Thanks for sharing!

Cliff

Something Different From Wisconsin.
Your Racine 12-inch record album prompted a quick search into some Victrolas thereby finding three of these similar 12-inch albums. Two being identical and a third with different advertising, but similar layout. Your album has different advertisers than any of mine, so there are at least three variations of these albums. We'll have to compare sometime.
(We have more to offer than cheese.)

A duplicate you say? I sense a possible sale/trade in your future!!!

Thanks for the added info! We'll have to get together and compare albums.

Bob

Thanks for sharing the great pictures of this interesting album!

AudioAntique wrote:Something Different From Wisconsin.
(We have more to offer than cheese.)

Whenever I hear "Racine," I can't help but think of Harlow Wilcox's continual pitches for Johnson's Wax on Fibber McGee and Molly.

Bob, what a great record album! I have never seen anything like that out here on the west coast. Something new to watch for.