Berliner's Gramophone

Biography - Berliner's Gramophone

UK

The 5-inch discs (our site lists these as 6-inch) are the earliest discs from Berliner. They were made by Kämmer & Reinhardt in Waltershausen, Thuringen, Germany. Some may be seen in this list from a London store. More information may be found on the Archeophone website

The 7-inch (and rarely very early 10-inch) discs are are the earliest releases from The Gramophone Company, later to become known as His Master's Voice. These discs do not have paper labels, and details of the recordings are impressed into the centre area. This was abandoned in 1902 when 7 and 10-inch discs with paper labels were introduced, and the discs had a 'Gramophone' marking.

In mid 1897 William Barry Owen arrived in London from the USA to find an international market for Emil Berliner's gramophone. In March 1898 'The Gramophone Company' was formed with a group of investors headed by Trevor Williams, a London solicitor. The investors were not happy that all Berliner's discs (then called plates) were American material, and insisted that British material be added and a pressing plant be set up in Europe. Berliner arranged for the plant to be set up in Hannover, Germany where his family had a telephone factory, and sent Fred Gaisberg to record discs in London. Gaisberg started recording in London during Autumn 1898, and the first stock lists were issued in November (see "English" - which was extended to cover all European recordings - and "USA imported" lists).

The European discs were issued using a different catalogue numbering system which is detailed fully in the Gramophone Concert biography.

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