Gramophone Concert Record

Biography - Gramophone Concert Record

UK

Gramophone Concert (10-inch discs only) is the early version of the His Master's Voice label. See Gramophone for 7-inch discs and Gramophone Monarch for 12-inch discs.

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 of Berliner's discs (then called plates) were American material. They 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 Hanover, 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 1898 (see "English" and USA imported lists).

A catalogue number system was set up with blocks of 10,000 numbers that indicated the region or language of recording. It should be noted, however, that the Gramophone Company was always 'International,' and recordings could be issued in the main catalogue of any country. The regions are as follows:
1-9999: British
10000-19999: Oriental and ethnic
20000-29999: Russian
30000-39999: French
40000-49999: German
50000-59999: Italian
60000-69999: Spanish
70000-79999: Austro-Hungarian until 1907, then Czech/Hungarian.
80000-89999: Scandinavian
90000-99999: Dutch/Belgian

These blocks were sub-divided according to material as follows:
1-499: Military Bands
500-999: Orchestras
1000-1999: spoken material
2000-2999: male vocal
3000-3999: female vocal
4000-4499: duets,trios, etc
4500-4749: choral
4750-4999: choir (Sacred)
5000-5499: cornet
5500-5999: piano
6000-6249: clarinet
6250-6499: banjo
6500-6699: bagpipes with drum
6700-6749: bugle calls
6750-6999: xylophone
7000-7249: trombone
7250-7549: mandolin
7550-7699: bassoon
7700-7849: bagpipes
7850-7899: cello
7900-7999: violin
8000-8499: multiple instruments
8500-8999: balalaika
9000-9099: piccolo
9100-9149: harmonica/concertina
9150-9249: flute
9250-9799: miscellaneous
9800-9999: viola

When a sub-range became full, a new block was allocated with the catalogue numbers prefixed by a number followed by a dash, e.g., 2- 3- 4-, etc.

The first discs were 7-inch single-sided 'Berliners', with the details impressed into the record. The original trademark was 'The Recording Angel' that can be seen on the label of most discs in this period (see here).

Berliner's collaboration in the U.S.A. with Eldridge Johnson in developments to gramophone and recording technology was adopted by The Gramophone Co., and a partnership was formed with Johnson's U.S.A. Victor record company to exchange recordings.

Branches were established in major cities throughout Europe. While Berliner's Hanover, Germany, pressing plant remained a separate company (Deutsche Grammophon), a German branch of the Gramophone Co. was founded in Berlin in November 1898.

In 1901, the company name was changed to 'Gramophone & Typewriter' (G&T). Gaisberg and other recording experts made many trips to Europe, Russia, North Africa, the Middle East, and even China in these early days to record local artists.

10-inch discs and paper labels were introduced in November 1901, with the 7-inch discs called 'Gramophone Record'' and the 10-inch discs called 'Gramophone Concert'. Both disc sizes shared the same set of catalogue numbers. Regular labels were black with gold printing, but for celebrity recordings red labels (and later other colours) were used and were sold at much higher prices.

In 1902, a pressing plant was founded at Riga (then part of the Russian Empire) to supply discs to Russia.

When 12-inch discs were introduced in 1903, they were called 'Gramophone Monarch' and numbered as above but with a 0-prefix to the block catalogue number.

When the regional branches were all established, each was given a block of 10,000 numbers for 'green label' domestic issues, which indicated which branch had origin or ownership. The British branch already used 'green label' domestic issues after their purchase of the Zonophone label in 1903.

10000 to 19999 Orient
20000 to 29999 Germany
30000 to 39999 Holland and Belgium
40000 to 49999 London (issued as Zonophone)
50000 to 59999 Spain and Portugal
60000 to 69999 Russia (including Poland, etc.)
70000 to 79999 Scandinavia
80000 to 89999 France
90000 to 99999 Italy
100000 to 109999 Czech./Hungary

In November 1907, the company name was changed back to the original 'Gramophone Company' name, and in mid-1908 pressing was started at a new factory in Hayes, Middlesex. Pressing still continued in Hanover, Germany, which would eventually supply most of Central Europe, Scandinavia, and the Baltic States. The transfer of master discs from Hanover to Hayes also started, but was slow. Many remained in Hanover at the start of the First World War, which would cause many problems for the later 'His Masters Voice' label.

A branch in Calcutta, India, was established in 1907, and in July 1908 manufacturing of discs started. Within a few years, this factory was manufacturing discs for India, Burma, Ceylon, Dutch East Indies, The Malay States, Siam, and also Hong Kong and China.

The 'dog and gramophone' image did not appear on labels in the UK until 1909 and was not registered as a British trademark until 1910.

The label became known as 'His Masters Voice' in August 1910.

No double-sided discs were issued in the UK in the pre-HMV period. Other branches, however, introduced them in 1907 - Berlin (1st July), Vienna (15th July), and Paris, Milan, and Scandinavia (15th August). Many single-sided discs of classical material remained in the Gramophone Co.'s British catalogue until 1924.

Further Information
Introduction by Alan Kelly.
Search the Kelly database for recording dates.
CHARM limited sections of the Kelly Database and others.
Scandinavian HMV biography covering early Gramophone Co issues in Scandinavian countries.
Voices Of The Past Volume 1 listings of Gramophone Co 'English' single sided discs, many with release dates.
Voices Of The Past Volume 2 listings of Gramophone Co Italian single sided discs and 'green label' domestic issue discs, many with release dates.
Early Record Catalogues (now scrapped, SHAME ON YOU BL!!) large collection of annual catalogues and monthly supplements in The British Library.

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