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HMV Special Record No 1

Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2011 6:11 am
by Kiwi
HMV Special Record No 1
Why were these two records called Special record No 1 especially when they were manufactured for the Gramophone Co Sydney Australia
God Save the King followed by Stars and Stripes - March
You will note that this record has Australian and New Zealand Patents 19/10/23 Oct 1923
Must not be used for Radio or broadcasting nor publicly performed.
Thanks Kiwi

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Re: HMV Special Record No 1

Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 11:33 am
by gramophoneshane
It's listed in the 1933 catalogue as "Special record for cimemas etc..", but it's listed as being on the plumb label (10") with the same recording on both sides.
From what I can make out, the radio broadcast/patents label was introduced here in 1931, probably around the time of the EMI merger, so my guess is that by 1933 the label was changed from yellow to plumb, as label colour dictated retail price- in this case 4 shillings.
This was the second style of label used on HMV records pressed here in Australia, & "Manufactured specially for etc" appears on all Aussie HMV labels used until the end of 78rpm production.
A similar phrase was used on the last of the Zonophone records just before the Regal-Zonophone label was introduced- Made in Australia specially for The British Zonophone Co Ltd, and also includes the same radio broadcast/public performance info border.
Your plumb coloured label was the 3rd style used, and dates from the late 1930s.

In 1926 Australias first recording studio & record pressing plant was opened in Homebush NSW by Columbia, and soon after they began pressing discs for The Gramophone Co. By the time of the depression, they were pressing discs for many of the major labels from around the world.
It's interesting that the first Aussie HMV label made the false claim that they were "manufactured BY The Gramophone Co, Sydney NSW. Whether this was simply because the same basic artwork as the UK label was used (with a change of address), or if HMV didn't want it common knowledge that their superior quality records were actually being made by their (then) major competitor, I dont know, but the second label was more honest.
From this time forward, records pressed at Homebush had "Made in Australia FOR *insert company name* on the label, including Columbia.
The only exceptions I can think of are the Regal-Zonophone & Decca labels, which say Made In Australia by Columbia Graphophone (Aust) Pty Ltd, Sydney NSW., but there may be others that credit Columbia as the maker.

Re: HMV Special Record No 1

Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 9:00 pm
by Kiwi
Shane
Well done that is fantastic.
I never thought of a Cinema.
Just thinking about that surely there must have been many Cinema records used before this one, therefore why was this called Record 1.
Tony