The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

“On This Day in the History of Recorded Sound…”

January 5, 1904: Ademor Petit was granted a U.S. patent (No.749,092) for a “Double Faced Sound Record.” Although it seems obvious to us now, manufacturers were reluctant to pursue 2-sided records, although 2-sided test pressings of Berliner (1900), Zonophone (1900/01), and Victor (1903) exist. It wasn’t until 1908 that the major companies fully embraced 2-sided records. For some interesting examples: https://forum.antiquephono.org/topic/33 ... c-records/

https://www.antiquephono.org/#/

One could argue that Victor didn't fully embrace double-sided records even then, considering that the Red Seals remained single-sided until the early 1920s. Cue the cry, "This record is valuable! It's Caruso singing "O Sole Mio," and it's recorded on only one side! RARE!"

I've always liked the Columbia double-disc demonstration record. It exists in more than one variant, I think, but here's the one I know (not my video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wz4bdb6OAc

So basically anything single sided would be 1920s or earlier. That would help somewhat in dating records. Thanks for the information. I have about 20 or 30 of the single sided ones. I will take a second look at them. Tom

tomb wrote: Tue Jan 06, 2026 12:02 am So basically anything single sided would be 1920s or earlier. That would help somewhat in dating records. Thanks for the information. I have about 20 or 30 of the single sided ones. I will take a second look at them. Tom

That's a VERY broad generalization. This generalization is more accurate: Anything single-sided in the Victor or Columbia popular series (black label) is about 1908 or earlier. Single-sided Victor Red Seals are 1923 or earlier.

George P.

Didn't German Odeon have the worldwide patent for double-sided records? I heard this claim from different sources, and up to the end of the first decade of the 20th century, the only two-sided records in the market were Odeon or its affiliates like Fonotipia, with rare exceptions.