The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Ridiculous as it probably sounds, I have always thought that the brand name 'Victor' was created from some-ones name. (Like 'Victor Mature').

However, I was in my gramophone room this morning and it suddenly occurred to me that it may have derived from the word 'Victorious'.

Can someone please confirm to me where the brand name came from ?

The Victor histories I've read (kind of 'From tinfoil to stereo' and the usual books alike) seem to point in the Victor=victorious direction... as if the name were chosen by E R Johnson after all the litigation, and the negotiations with poor Berliner, at the time when he was forbidden to sell products in the USA and lost control of his operations there. I always supposed that he was in good terms with Johnson, and so the new arrangements were carefully studied and agreed among them, namely Victor in the US as the new business, and Berliner to Canada to refound his interests there. Even I want to remember that they had cross-licenses and crossed investments among the two companies since the start. Correct me if I'm wrong...

The name celebrates a court case and later appeal in 1901 when Eldridge Johnson successfully overturned an injunction application by Frank Seaman to halt Johnson's manufacture of gramophones and to prevent his use of the word gramophone.
Although still able to use the word gramophone, Johnson decided to adopt a name of his own and chose, appropriately, Victor.

Very interesting indeed.

Also, how the meaning of a brand name can alter my perception of the companies products.

Thank you very much Inigo and Epigramophone.

I don’t think that anyone knows the answer. Some have said that it was because of a lawsuit victory. Some have said that he took it from the name of a bike. Maybe both have some truth. It could be that he liked the name.

Django wrote: Sat Nov 26, 2022 10:17 am I don’t think that anyone knows the answer. Some have said that it was because of a lawsuit victory. Some have said that he took it from the name of a bike. Maybe both have some truth. It could be that he liked the name.

Reminds me of the story of the Chevrolet "bowtie" logo. The story goes that Louis Chevrolet spotted that pattern on some wallpaper in a hotel room and thought it looked interesting.

Really Interesting indeed.

So, even for such a famous brand, it seems that the reason for the name remains a mystery.

So much is unknown. Brilliant.

An article on this topic appeared in the March 2022 issue of the APS magazine, pages 23-26. In it, the various theories about the name's origin are discussed, as well as letters from Leon F. Douglass and Mrs. Eldridge Johnson which seem definitive.

George P.

I've often wondered if the Victor brand name referred less to winning the court case, and more to it's status among other brands at the time, as this 1901 ad indicates: "Victor" as in "The Winner!"
As in "Nobody can beat us!"
As in "We're Number One! We're Number One!"
As in "Woo! Woo!"

OrthoFan

OrthoFan wrote: Sat Nov 26, 2022 11:39 am I've often wondered if the Victor brand name referred less to winning the court case, and more to it's status among other brands at the time, as this 1901 ad indicates:
1901 Schribners Victor Ad.jpg

"Victor" as in "The Winner!"
As in "Nobody can beat us!"
As in "We're Number One! We're Number One!"
As in "Woo! Woo!"

OrthoFan

I am convinced !

I choose this one !