The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Eldridge Johnson's first two Record Labels. The Consolidated Talking Machine Co, of Philadelphia Pa. circa 1900. It later became the Improved label (dropping the name Gram-O-Phone) and than became Victor.

When I have a chance, I will throw in a pre-dog Victor to complete the 3 early pre-dog Johnson Label story.

solophoneman wrote:When I have a chance, I will throw in a pre-dog Victor to complete the 3 early pre-dog Johnson Label story.

Thanks for posting these, it’s nice to see more of the earlier labels. I’m looking forward to seeing the third one.

— MordEth

Johnson's early labels are significant because they show the early progress of what was to become the most successful Talking machine company of the first 3 decades of the Twentieth Century, due in large part to his superior advertising and marketing skills, technical advances and the ability to sign to long term contracts most of the significant and popular entertainers of the day. Funny how his early labels although short lived and rare, do not attract even half the attention of the early Berliners. Probably because Emile was the first of course.But how many collectors have actually seen a Consolidated label vs. the more common Berliners?

I've never seen actual examples of the earliest Consolidated or Improved records, only pix. And I've only ever seen a 3000 series Victor once, about 30 years ago ('Washington Post March' by Sousa's Band IIRC--I remember the flush label and no HMV logo) but the guy wouldn't part with it, even though neither of us knew that much about those very early items.

I've never succeded in bidding on any of the early Consolidated or pre-dog Victors either, in the Nauctions. I wonder what they tend to go for?

Same here. I've never seen an actual copy of a Consolidated or Improved record, and in my years of collecting, I've only gotten one pre-dog Victor.



Rocky

OK, here is that Pre-Dog Victor that I promised and an interesting title just in time of St. Patrick's Day !! I guess the last to do is to post and early Dog Victor. Maybe a little later.

I love these early discs! I once found a wonderful stash of Consolidateds, ERJ's, Berliners, and even a 7" American (blue HS&P) record that had rolled behind the dividers of a C-19 I picked up for next to nothing. Didn't know they were back there until I tilted the cabinet back to dolly it out and heard some major slidage going on inside! John M