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Found this single sided Victor Talking Machine Co. "Victrola" label record and was wondering if they had a specific purpose, such as for dealer display, or ?? I have several other single sided Victors, but this is the only one that is embossed.

I think the embossed flip sides on Red Seal records appeared shortly before or during when the Victor Red Seal catalog went double sided in 1923.

Youj will find after the RCA acquisition of Victor, the single faced records included the RCA meatball logo embossed on the flip side.

Thank you Flyball!
It seemed like a lot of extra effort for the company to do the embossing, especially since it would not be seen while the record was playing. I was envisioning records such as this perhaps hanging in a dealer display where the embossing would be more visible. I suppose though, once the mold is created, the embossing is no additional effort or expense.
I am fairly new to collecting/appreciating these old records - I have been accumulating them for years - but just recently began paying closer attention to the details on them. Thank you again for the info!

Frisco The Beagle wrote:Thank you Flyball!
It seemed like a lot of extra effort for the company to do the embossing, especially since it would not be seen while the record was playing.

Once the stamper is made there is no additional effort needed. What DID take additional effort was when they attached descriptive labels or licensing agreements to the blank side

Governor Flyball wrote:I think the embossed flip sides on Red Seal records appeared shortly before or during when the Victor Red Seal catalog went double sided in 1923.

Youj will find after the RCA acquisition of Victor, the single faced records included the RCA meatball logo embossed on the flip side.

A similar embossed pattern appears on the reverse of late HMV single sided records, replacing the "Recording Angel" trade mark.

Governor Flyball wrote:I think the embossed flip sides on Red Seal records appeared shortly before or during when the Victor Red Seal catalog went double sided in 1923.

Youj will find after the RCA acquisition of Victor, the single faced records included the RCA meatball logo embossed on the flip side.

My guess is shortly before. Maybe not so shortly. Double sided record presses are slightly different from single sided presses; Victor converted most of its popular line to double sided by the First World War, but Red Seal remained single sided until the early 1920s. The later single sided pressings were given the "spiderweb" plate to help with the viscosity and flow during pressing, because it was better to have something there for the record surface.

After the Red Seal catalogue was converted to double sided, Victor and later RCA maintained this practice for odd album sides. Let's say a symphony required seven sides, thus four records. What to do with the eighth side? Either something unrelated would be put there, or the spiderweb plate would be used to produce this back side. Either way, the pressing requirements were taken care of and record manufacturing continued without any issues.

shoshani wrote: After the Red Seal catalogue was converted to double sided, Victor and later RCA maintained this practice for odd album sides. Let's say a symphony required seven sides, thus four records. What to do with the eighth side? Either something unrelated would be put there, or the spiderweb plate would be used to produce this back side. Either way, the pressing requirements were taken care of and record manufacturing continued without any issues.

With sets for an automatic changer it was better to put an unrelated piece on the extra side, tough I've seen some (not certain if it was Victor) with a fast groove which sweeps the arm to the center.

shoshani wrote:. The later single sided pressings were given the "spiderweb" plate to help with the viscosity and flow during pressing, because it was better to have something there for the record surface.

I've heard this too. Seems plausible.

I just wonder why those zillions of earlier single sided pressings (any label color) didn't require an embossed back. Did they change the shellac forumlation or sumtin'? The embossed records always seem to me to have a lighter, flimsier feel to them compared to the heavier earlier pressing. But maybe I'm just imagining that.

epigramophone wrote:

Governor Flyball wrote:I think the embossed flip sides on Red Seal records appeared shortly before or during when the Victor Red Seal catalog went double sided in 1923.

Youj will find after the RCA acquisition of Victor, the single faced records included the RCA meatball logo embossed on the flip side.

A similar embossed pattern appears on the reverse of late HMV single sided records, replacing the "Recording Angel" trade mark.

Yes, I've got a few HMV pressings from the 40-50's that retain the Victor logo as above, on the last side of record sets.
There's also an HMV version used with the same spider web pattern

Some ebay sellers believe these embossed back records are extremely rare and valuable. They list them at outrageous prices.