Edison Bell Velvet-Face

Biography - Edison Bell Velvet-Face

UK

Two series of Velvet Face records exist. The first was issued from 1911 to 1915 (red label), the second from 1921 to 1927 (purple labels, later green).

The first Velvet Face series was introduced by Edison Bell in September 1910 to replace their existing Bell Disc series (1908-1912). This Velvet Face series can be identified by their red labels. Both 10-inch and 12-inch discs were issued. Advertising implied that they were made from a better quality shellac mix.The series was discontinued in 1914. These discs are comparatively rare as they sold badly in comparison to Edison Bell's popular Winner series of discs.

The second series was introduced in 1921. The labels were initially purple, but later changed to green. Both 10-inch and 12-inch discs were issued. The series was discontinued in 1927 and replaced by the Electron series.

Dating
Velvet Face 10" (1st Series)
1910 1001 - 1024
1911 1025 - 1121
1912 1122 - 1195
1913 1196 - 1348
1914 1349 - 1418 (Oct) - ?
1915 ? - 1427 (Mar)

Velvet Face 12" (1st Series)
1913 600 - 620? (600 is July)
1914 621? - 642 (640 is July)

Velvet Face 10" (2nd Series)
1921 1000 - 1017
1922 1018 - 1046
1923 1047 - 1079
1924 1080 - 1117
1925 1118 - 1154
1926 1155 - 1195
1927 1196 - 1212

Velvet Face 12" (2nd Series)
1921 500 - 512
1922 513 - 529
1923 530 - 565
1924 566 - 617
1925 618 - 657
1926 658 - 694
1927 695 - 719

(Dating information for series 2 from Part 1 of Karlo Adrian's 'Winner' Record Listing. Originally issued as supplements to "The Talking Machine World" magazine, it was later published in book form with co-author Arthur Badrock, where this information is omitted. Updated with data from Bill Dean Myatt published 2017)

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