Columbia - Biography

Biography - Columbia

Australia

Whilst not officially opened until October 14, 1926, record production at Columbia's factory in Homebush, Sydney, had been underway since late June - the first record pressed reportedly being 9085.

The first record both pressed and recorded in Australia, by Columbia, was 0514. The Parlophone Co. Ltd. also began pressing their records at the Columbia factory.

In January, 1930, Columbia announced a reduction in prices for most records, as well as the transferring of some light-blue labelled discs to dark-blue labels. Purple labelled discs were demoted to light-blue, and the purple label was discontinued.

Columbia and Parlophone merged with The Gramophone Company (HMV) in 1931, moving to Columbia's factory in Homebush.

Attempts to restrict the broadcasting of records began in October, 1931, by the Columbia, HMV and Parlophone companies. Record labels adopted the phrase "Must not be used for radio broadcasting nor publicly performed" about a month later.

More information on this label can be found here, halfway down the page.

LP records from E.M.I. were introduced in May, 1953, 45rpm records followed in 1954. 78rpm production started rapping up in 1958. The last known Columbia 78 was released 1959.

DISCOGRAPHY

A great discography can be found at www.78rpm.net.nz.

The UK catalogue series ran along-side the main catalogue series, and started being produced before it.

Columbia also used a Process Recording label for their private recording service.

0500 10" Series

The main catalogue series used for 10-inch records was the 0500 series. Starting at 0501, it reached 01931 before it was phased out by the new DO-series in mid-1930. It used a dark-blue label.

02500 12" Series

This was the main 12" series used in Australia. Starting at 02501, numbering jumped from 02999 to 05001 in early 1930. This series continued up to 05086 before being fased out by the new DOX-series. It used a dark-blue label.

Note: A Jewish record is known to be have been released as 05000. However, it's release was most likely after the 05000 numbering had commenced.

03500 10" Series

A 10-inch light-blue label series was introduced in May, 1927, as part of the first all-Australian supplement. This series ran until 1930. Records started being "transferred" into the 0500 series around September, 1929.

Started at 03501 and finished at 03652.

04000 12" Series

12-inch light-blue label records joined the aforementioned supplement at Columbia 04004. However, the first two, 04001 and 04002, were released in 1926. The series finished at 04386.

Note: 04003 was never used.

05000 12" Series

See the above '02500 12" Series' for info.

07000 10" Series

Paul Whiteman "Potato Head" label series introduced in August 1928, starting at 07001 and ending at 07043. This series had a special, colourful label and matching sleeve.

07500 12" Series

Paul Whiteman "Potato Head" label series introduced in August 1928, starting at 07501 and ending at 07511. This series had a special, colourful label and matching sleeve.

09000 10" Series

A purple label series introduced in January, 1928, ranging from 09001 - 09015. This was the most expensive 10" series, costing 7/- each. (dark-blue & Whiteman labels cost 4/-, light-blue 6/-)

The label was reduced to light-blue in the early '30s.

09500 12" Series

A purple label series introduced in January, 1928, ranging from 09501 - 09513. This was the most expensive 12" series, costing 10/- each. (dark-blue & Whiteman labels cost 6/-, light-blue 8/6 then 8/-)

The label was reduced to light-blue in the early '30s.

DO 10" Series

Introduced mid 1930, replacing the 0500 series. It started at DO-1, ended around DO-4017 and used a dark-blue label.

Maori Records: DO-51 - DO-74

In April, 1930, Gil Dech, along with the managing director of the Columbia company, Mr W. Donner, and recording engineer, Mr R. Southey, took a portable recording outfit to Rotorua, New Zealand, and recorded 51 Maori folk songs and choruses, of which 48 were used.

The first series issued included 12 records, and were released between 9-13th June. These were DO's 51-56, 59, and 62-66. The 13th released in the series was DO-57. There were intentions for another disc, DO-75, but it was never made, and the catalogue number remained unused.

This series had a special label and sleeve. 12" record DOX-234 was also released with the Maori label.

More information on this series can be read in The Discographer Magazine - Vol. 3, No. 6.

DOX 12" Series

Introduced mid 1930, becoming the new main 12" series. It started at DOX-1, and used a dark-blue label.

FE 10" Series

"Introduced in 1929 these Columbia records had a rather plain buff label, with 1-10 available until 1941 when they were deleted. It is unknown if these were recorded locally or dubbed from overseas masters, probably the latter.

FE 3-10 have duplicate sides.
FE 11-12 are English masters and date from August 1930.
FE 13 was recorded in Sydney in October 1939, and like 11/12 intended for playing at crowd gatherings (theatres, etc)."

- Mike Sutcliffe's Australian Record & Music Review #4 (January 1990), pg13.

KO 8" Series

Red labelled 8-inch children's series introduced December 4, 1930, ranging from KO-1 to KO-18. In the '50s, KO's 1-6, 10-12 & 14-18 were re-issued as 6-inch coloured vinyl records with yellow & white labels.

Dating:
KO-1 - KO-3: 4th Dec. 1930
KO-4 - KO-6: Dec. 1931
KO-7 - KO-9: Dec. 1932
KO-10 - KO-12: Dec. 1933
KO-13 - KO-18: Dec. 1934

KO 10" Series

A 10-inch children's series introduced in the '50s starting at KO-1001. They had yellow & white labels, later featuring a pink fairies either side of the spindle hole, and came with picture sleeves.

KOX 12" Series

Released as part of the '50s children's series, containing one record: KOX-1001.

LO 10" Series

Using a light-blue label, this series started at LO-1. Seems to have been introduced ~1939.

LOX 12" Series

Replacing the 04000 series in 1930, this light-blue label series started at LOX-1.

LABELOGRAPHY

1926 (seen here)
The initial design used the UK 'Columbia' title font. It's unknown how many records were given this label, though it is only known to be found on records bearing UK catalogue numbers. Likely a result of using stock labels brought with them from UK.

1926 (seen here)
The more common design easily identifiable by the 'round' "a" in 'Columbia'. The "Magic Notes" logo is slightly shorter than the one on the UK labels.

This design is also more commonly found on records with UK catalogue numbers, but also continued to be used on the rarely used smaller labels until ~1929.

1926-27 (seen here)
The "Trade Mark" text under the "Magic Notes" logo soon moved to the right of the logo. The patent and company details either side of the spindle hole were also repositioned slightly further down and apart.

1927-28 (seen here)
The company details to the right of the spindle hole changed from "Columbia Graphophone Co. Limited London E.C 1" to "Columbia Graphophone (Aust.) Ltd., Sydney, N.S.W."

1928-31 (seen here)
A new, bolder font was used for the Columbia title. The "Magic Notes" logo was updated. The patent/price statement on the left had more patent info added, and a thicker outer border was used.

1931 (seen here)
A short lived design used prior to the addition of the radio ban statement detailed below. Company details and "Made In Australia" now written around the border. A similar font to the old UK style font was used. Patent details listed now listed in two lines between the "Columbia" name and the spindle hole. It's unknown how many records were given this label.

1931-37 (seen here)
At the end of 1931, the statement "Must Not Be Used For Radio Broadcasting Nor Publicly Performed" was added just below the "Columbia" name, the patent details being moved to either side of the spindle hole.

1937-39 (seen here)
Company details altered to include 'Pty'.

1939-49 (seen here)
Patent details either side of the spindle hole removed.

1949-59 (seen here)
The radio ban statement was replaced by a new "Copyright Record" statement. The Company details around the border now being preceded by "For".

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