Homophon Company - Biography

Biography - Homophon Company

UK

Homophon was founded in Berlin, Germany in February 1905. The first discs were 10-inch single-sided, but in September they announced double sided discs, despite patent claims by the owners of the Odeon label, which were later overturned. The label used a female harpist logo.

Homophon first advertised in Britain in June 1906, asking readers to write to Berlin for a catalogue and then send their orders to Berlin. But this was soon changed. Bernard Andres & Co of Finsbury Pavement, London were appointed agents in December, and Andres established a London recording studio.

The London recording studio was in operation by April 1907, and the recordings announced in June were all recorded in London. Homophon also applied for British trademarks of 'Homo' and 'Homophone' in April. By November, 138 British titles were on offer. By October 1908, the British catalogue contained almost 1,000 titles, and by May 1911 over 900 discs. Not all British titles were recorded in London, some being recorded in Berlin.

Homophon became involved in a dispute with Zonophon over similarity in their name, which led to it apply for the name 'Homokord' in Britain in December 1907. 'Homochord' was submitted for registration in May 1911.

In August 1913 Andres (by then Andres Bros.) launched a new, 'cheaper' record, the 10-inch Homochord. This label replaced the female harpist logo with a filigree pattern, and was green. The harpist, however, was soon returned to her place on the label. By April 1914, there were 255 discs in the Homophone catalogue. This number soon grew by another 336 from older Homophon recordings.

From about 1910 onwards, Homophon also undertook contract pressings for other labels.

After the outbreak of World War 1, Homochord pressings for Andres Bros. continued at the Lindstrom plant in Hertford until 1917, when a 'Trading With The Enemy' act was passed. The highest catalogue number of German-made Homochords is thought to be 4618, while Hertford pressed discs go up to about 4703.

Post War Homochords

To be added.

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