Electrola - Biography

Biography - Electrola

Germany

Founded on May 8, 1925, "Electrola" was the label released by the German branch of the British The Gramophone Company, owners of the "His Master's Voice" label in Britain.

Before the First World War, HMV and the German Deutsche Grammophon (DGG) had both been part of The Gramophone Company, but during the war DGG was taken over by the German government as an "enemy asset" and sold to the German Polydor company.

After hostilities ceased, both HMV and DGG claimed an exclusive right to use the "Nipper" trademark in their respective countries. So HMV records were exported to Germany under the Electrola label, and DGG used the Polydor label for their exports to Britain.

Electrola soon became one of the most important German labels, recording many popular German artists, but also releasing masters provided by the British HMV, the French Disque Gramophone, and by Victor and Bluebird in the United States. Its pressing plant was located in Berlin-Nowawes. In 1932, production moved from there to a plant at Schlesisches Tor in Berlin S.O.

Release year according to catalog numbers:

EG1 - EG420 = 1926
EG421 - EG763 = 1927
EG764 - EG1170 = 1928
EG1171 - EG1750 = 1929
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EG... BLR 6000 - 9000 = 1930

Recording year according to matrix numbers:
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OD1 - OD740 = 1931
OD741 - OD1365 = 1932
OD1366 - OD1869 = 1933
OD1870 - OD2100 = 1934
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ORA1 - ORA300 = 1934
ORA301 - ORA980 = 1935
ORA981 - ORA1700 = 1936
ORA1701 - ORA2550 = 1937
ORA2551 - ORA3504 = 1938
ORA3505 - ORA4400 = 1939
ORA4401 - ORA4850 = 1940
ORA4851 - ORA5350 = 1941
ORA5351 - ORA5650 = 1942
ORA5651 - ORA6050 = 1943

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