The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi All,

For the last couple of years, I’ve read about the rarity of double-sided busy bee records (D Series). I even have a page from the “Directory of American disc record brand manufacturers” written by the great early disc record historian Allan Sutton in 1994. It states emphatically that “all known busy B discs are single sided.” That must have been the best information that they had back then. Of course, we know this is not the case and that the busy bee record company folded after making the last D series discs in 1909 I believe. I currently have three such double sided Busy- Bee discs that I found on eBay during the past year (and they didn’t cost that much). Of course I also realize that rarity and monetary value are often completely separate topics when it comes to vintage 78 records. I’m starting to wonder if these are really that rare. I am attaching a picture of one of my records. Does anyone have any thoughts or additional information on this topic?

Thanks.

John

I'm on the same boat as you. I don't know much about them except that they are supposedly rare, however I have two different examples of them if it helps. (Sorry about the camera quality)
As you can see, there is one record like yours, with the red text around the label, and the other disc just looks like a normal Busy Bee record but has two sides.

I know this probably doesn't help much, but I thought I'd show these incase it does.

Thanks for the response, and it’s good to know that there’s somebody out there with a similar experience. In truth, every little bit of information helps in my quest to learn more. Two of my double-sided busy bees have the different label with the red text on the outside, that only shows up on the two sided records. The other one has the normal single sided label type on both sides.

Thanks again.

John