The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Years ago I bought a Harmony front mount at an auction. It only came with 1 record so I started looking for more(this was before Ebay and in my area not an easy thing to find) I finally found a box full of them and after playing a couple, put them away. Not too long ago, I decided to get them out and play a couple. The first one I pulled out had a Standard label on it (I have them stored in an Edison C19) so since it had been a long while since I bought them, I just thought I had made a mistake and bought a box of Standard records. Anyway I recently bought a Standard machine and pulled out the same record. Put it on the machine and found the hole too big. I turned the record over and it has a Harmony label on the other side. Have you seen this before? Obviously the records for Harmony and Standard were made in the same factory even though the machines were not? What is the connection?

These were two of several Columbia "client" companies, many of which used different sized spindle holes, but they were almost all Columbia pressings, not uncommon to find mispressings like this from my experience.

Sean

The most common larger-than-usual spindle hole records were (in ascending order) Standard, Harmony, United, and Aretino. I believe these were about ½", ¾", 1.5", and 3" diameter respectively. Most of these discs were pressed by Columbia, and many of the machines were made by American Graphophone (Columbia) as well. All these companies were operated under the aegis of the Great Northern Manufacturing Company. This explains why record labels from 2 of these different companies occasionally appear on the same disc. Likewise, these labels will sometimes have spindle holes more commonly associated with a sister brand.

The machines were sold for a pittance, or sometimes GIVEN away in order to generate demand for the records designed to fit it. A small town furniture store could compete with the mighty Victor Talking Machine and the dealers who sold them by offering its customers a machine for perhaps 98 cents. This, in contrast to say $30.00 for a Victor II, would appeal to many. And once those customers had a Standard, Harmony, or other Great Northern brand in the house, he had to buy his records from that dealer - - Victor records wouldn't fit. Unfortunately, sometimes the resourceful owner pulled out his drill...

George P.

I had a Standard disc with one of the green and white labels. It came off while washing & there was a Columbia black and gold label underneath.

Thanks for all the information. I was going to try to find some Standard records but found I could just put a nylon bushing on the spindle of the Standard machine and play the Harmony ones. The Harmony machine and the Busy Bee machine I have are nearly identical and I think they were made Hawthorne and Sheble. The Standard is better made and I think must be a Columbia machine. All are front mount models.

phonogal wrote:Thanks for all the information. I was going to try to find some Standard records but found I could just put a nylon bushing on the spindle of the Standard machine and play the Harmony ones. The Harmony machine and the Busy Bee machine I have are nearly identical and I think they were made Hawthorne and Sheble. The Standard is better made and I think must be a Columbia machine. All are front mount models.

You're right - - I've never seen a Standard machine manufactured by anyone other than American Graphophone (Columbia). Hawthorne & Sheble manufactured the earlier Harmony and all the Busy Bee disc machines.

George P.

phonogfp wrote:And once those customers had a Standard, Harmony, or other Great Northern brand in the house, he had to buy his records from that dealer - - Victor records wouldn't fit. Unfortunately, sometimes the resourceful owner pulled out his drill...

George P.

How true! And later someone plugged the hole to make it playable on a standard (pun intended!) talking machine.

Oh no! Did it have to be a Joseph Jefferson?

George P.