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Topic: Notes on Auto-coupled 78rpm sets

13th Jul 2017, 12:48 AM
	scrough No picture 'cos I'm not into 45rpm :( Member since Jan 2013 3428 Points Moderator	I've just updated the release date for a 78rpm auto-coupled set. It had been entered as 1951, but was actually released in Jan 1938, which is the biggest error I've discovered so far . I've recently done some background research on auto-coupling relating to HMV, so here are some notes. Might help in pub quizzes? HMV released their Automatic Gramophone No. 1 in 1928. It could play two to twenty records, and both 10" and 12" mixed. Auto-coupled sets were first announced by HMV in their December 1928 supplement, available from the first of that month. In 1931 HMV introduced their Model 522 gramophone which handled only eight records, and in October 1933 (by then combined with Columbia as EMI) announced that all future auto-coupled releases would be configured for eight record auto-changers. The auto-coupled sets already issued were re-issued for eight record couplings using new numbers where necessary, which explains why you'll sometimes find two different releases of the same auto-coupled recording. For example, the HMV C series sets in the ranges C 7000-7153 and C7159-7192 were re-released from C 7262 upwards. HMV used 7000+ numbers for auto-coupled sets in all their UK series,whereas Columbia tended to use 8000+ numbers. Many sets were issued simultaneously in both auto and standard coupling, so you can often determine the release date of an auto-coupled set if you can find the more commonly listed numbers of the standard coupling set. So if you are searching for an HMV/Columbia UK auto-coupled release date without success, send me a PM and I'll try to help. Edited by scrough on 13th Jul 2017, 1:12 AM