Oxford - Biography

Biography - Oxford

USA

Produced between Fall 1907-Fall 1916, the Oxford label was sold by mail order through the Sears Roebuck & Co. catalog. Records were single-sided and the artists were frequently (but not always) not credited by name.

The records were produced by Columbia Phonograph Co., Universal Talking Machine Manufacturing Company (Zonophone label), and Victor Talking Machine Co., who reissued some of their earlier releases on this label.

Between Fall 1907 and Fall 1908, only 7-inch discs were produced. The Spring 1909 catalog introduced 10-inch discs and was the first one to identify vocalists by name. 7-inch records were last listed in the Fall 1909 Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalog.

The earliest releases (1907-1909) feature an ornate, Art Nouveau-style curlicued design without patent dates at the bottom.

From 1910-1912, the label lists 5 patents in a Art Nouveau-style curlicued frame at the bottom (Dec. 10, 1901. Nov. 25, 1902. Jan. 2, 1908. Feb. 11, 1908. Nov. 30, 1909).

From 1913-1914, the Oxford label lists the same 5 patents in 2 unadorned rows at the bottom: (Dec. 10, 1901. Nov. 25, 1902. Jan. 2, 1908. Feb. 11, 1908. Nov. 30, 1909).

Between 1914-1916, the Oxford label lists 6 patents in 2 rows at the bottom: Dec. 10, 1901. Nov. 25, 1902. Jan. 2, 1908. Feb. 11, 1908. Aug. 11, 1908. Nov. 30, 1909.

Starting with the Fall 1916 catalog, Sears Roebuck & Co. changed the brand name of both their gramophone and records to Silvertone.

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