AUSTRALIAN and NEW ZEALAND 78 labels

AUSTRALIAN and NEW ZEALAND 78 labels - Dates and Images.

Last updated 22 May 2024

Adam Miller, Wellington, New Zealand

Labels are Australian, unless otherwise noted. Many of the larger labels were pressed on both sides of the Tasman Sea.
Also included are foreign labels solely intended for the Australasian market.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M

N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A
AERONA
Made in England by the Crystalate Mfg. Co, prob. imported into Australia by Salkeld & Wallace Ltd, wholesale distributers of Sydney. Almost all issues under pseudonyms.

100	mid 26
201	early 27

AEROPLANE (Flexible)
Produced by the Unbreakable Disc Records Co, Melbourne (successors to World Record Australia).
Mainly Banner (Plaza) masters (some derived from Bell or NYRL), all issued on pseudonyms.

10"

100 to
118

AIDA
One of a number of 1950s labels catering to Australia's immigrant population. All sides are Hungarian gypsy music by Gyuri Patko & His Orchestra.
From matrix, appears pressed by Columbia Graphophone (Aust) Pty Ltd.

AH 10"

101 to 112

[More data sought]

AMPERSAND

Jazz label from William Miller (Melbourne) started in September 1943. The 10" series ran to 36, there was a 12" from 1201-1206 and some 10" re-issues from US sources R101 to R105. All but 26/27 issued on vinyl rather than shellac. Production of 78s ended in 1955.

ANGELUS

From late 1928 to mid 1931. Drew on US Cameo, Gennett, Crown, Paramount & Grey Gull, English Imperial.
Black then purple labels

AN- 10" (AN dropped after 3037)

3049	12/28
3117	29
3243	30
3357	31

then to LYRIC. CLIFFORD 3000 series ran in parallel.

Black on yellow series used UK Imperial masters. The Clifford 4000 series ran in parallel.

1001-
1035

ARCADIA

From late 1929 to early 1930. Manufactured by Melbourne Vocalion, probably for Edments chain stores. Masters mainly from American Plaza/ARC, under pseudonyms.

2000- 10"

2001-
2071

29/
30

ARTRANSA
The Artransa Company was formed in 1940 initially to manufacture transcription discs for radio.
Pressed in both Australia and New Zealand.

A 10"

001	mid 49
027 (last)	mid 51

AUROTOR

NZ label - recorded by Rotorua Radio Ltd, pressed by Stebbings. Aurotor is Rotorua backwards.

TD 10"

1-6

1959

AUSTRAL
Pressed by World Record (Australia) Pty Ltd - a Pemberton-Billing outfit.

A- 10"

1 to 164

then to CONDOR.

AUSTRAL DUPLEX
"Unbreakable" - 1/4" thick layers of cardboard with a thin shellac coating. Gold, or gold & blue. These were the first records to be both recorded and pressed in Australia.

1 to 68

AUSTRALIAN JAZZ
From Melbourne Jazz entusiast, recording on a Pyrox wire recorder were transferred to 10"/12"/16" recordings.
Late 1940s - 1951.

AVALA
One of the bunch of 'ethnic' labels that sprung up in the 1950's, including Aida & Cosmopolitan. Yugoslavian material.

AWA
AWA (Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia)) produced the Radiola record, as well as Custom recordings.

B
BEEDA
Pressed in the USA by Plaza.

100 10"

100 to 116

1000 10"

1000 & 1001

7/25

A singe issue 684 was produced by Compo Canada on special request.

BELLBIRD

(flexible) 10"

100 to 151	30
300 to 321	31

BETA
New label pasted over Winner

10"

100 series	18-21
2000	18-21

BLACK DIAMOND
A sole issue known, pressed in the UK c1915, bearing a patriotic song about the Anzac's Gallipoli landing by the Australian composer Reginald Stoneham.

BLUE STAR
Produced at the same time as CIRCLE and WILCO. Used French BLUE STAR masters.

BS- 10"

101 - 103

50/51

BON MARCHE

100 10"
Made in England by Imperial, mix of US and UK masters.

100-255

c. 27

1000 10"
Made in USA

1000-
1036

late 26 to 27

BROADCAST
8"
Pressed by Vocalion, Melbourne.

All in 1928-30

BROADCAST DE LUXE (10")
Pressed by Vocalion, Melbourne.

W500- 10"

500 to 648

mid 29 to mid 30

BROADCAST TWELVE (10") really!
Pressed by Vocalion, Melbourne.

1929-30

BRUNSWICK

Data fragmentary but where a series is also listed in Barr, the fit is good.

405	12/30
519	9/31

A bunch of other series exist, more work required.

6000 10"

6000 - 6139

early 1931-32

10000 10" Gold on Purple.

10155

6/26

15000 10"

15198	7/29
15218	7/30

20000 ?"

20022	12/26
20087	7/29

30000 12"

30110

12/26

50000 12"

50066	12/26
50156	7/29

70000 ?"

77004

7/29

90000 ?"

90008

7/30

C
CAMDEN
Paste-over label on English Vocalion (1927) to be retailed by Buckinghams, Sydney.

Both 10" and 12"

CAPITOL (1)
Paste-over label on English (1926), and later local Parlophone and less commonly Columbia (1927-31). Any relation to the Mocklers Special "The Capitol" paste-over label?

10"

on UK Parlo	26
on local A2xxx	27-31

CAPITOL (2)
The US label

039	49
328	54
1001	3/56
1251	6/57

CK children's series

CARINIA

A label catering to Australia's large post-WWII East European immigrant population. Reissues from Jugoton (blue) and Orbis Polonia UK (red)

1950's 10"
[More data sought]

CENTURY

1000- 10" (DD prefix on 1010 & 1011)

1001
-1014

1950

CY 1000 10"

1015-27

1950

2000- 10" (Various prefixes M, V, S, 0- all from Boosey & Hawkes Mood Music catalogue)

various

1950

CENTURY PARTY RECORDS
A division of Austin Business Service Pty Ltd, 141 York St, Sydney. Issued a Racing game on record with 6 parallel tracks per side.
Pressed in both NZ and Australia by HMV as a process recording, sold for 19/6.

12"

PRX3736

late 50's

CETRA
Distributed by the Minstrel Record Co. Ethnic recordings.

DC- 10"

100-

50's

[More data sought]

CIRCLE
Produced at the same time as the WILCO and BLUE STAR. Used American CIRCLE masters.

C-0100 10"

0101 - 0106

50/51

CGD
Recorded in Italy by the Compagnia Generale del Disco, pressed in Australia for The International Record Co.
mid 1950s

CLARITÉ
Pressed by Plaza, USA.

10"

801	late 26
840	mid 27?

CLIFFORD
Clifford Industries produced many labels, including ANGELUS, PARAMOUNT, ELECTON, EMBASSY, GRACELON, MELOTONE, ORPHEUS, PLAZA, REGENT, STARR, STERLING, WORTH, GRAND PREE and GOLDEN TONGUE, all in the space of 3 years. Many masters were pressed on multiple labels, under various pseudonyms.

5000- 10"

5180 - 5335

28 to 31

This series mirrored on ANGELUS 3000- series.

4000- 10"

4001 - 4035

This series mirrored on ANGELUS 1000- series.

COAST
From the U.S. contemporary label. NZ numbers differ sometimes from the Australian for the same title.

CST 10"

001-
0012

late 49/
early 50

COLONIAL
Produced in Germany by Homophon gmbh from 1910 for Lockwoods of London (trading as the Perophone Co.). Not sold in the UK, these were exported to Australia until WW1 stopped things.

COLONIAL PEROPHONE
A follow-on label from COLONIAL, leading on to PEROPHONE.

COLUMBIA

0 10" dark blue

0517	7/26
0533	12/26
0720	8/27
0786	11/27
0917	1/28
01122	6/28
01475	7/29
01677	11/29
01923	7/30

0 12" dark blue

02936

7/29

0 10" light blue

03510

12/27

0 12" light blue

04263	7/29
04348	11/29
05055	1/30

"Potato-face" label
0 10" Whiteman

07001	9/28
07017	7/29
07027	11/29
07043	6/30

0 12" Whiteman

07501

9/28

DNZ 10"

103	8/56
105	12/56

DNZ 10"

10027	8/56
10086	8/57
10109	12/57
10129	3/58
10145	8/58

DO 10"

94	6/30
210	12/30
423	9/31
780	9/32
969	11/33
1375	8/35
1609	2/37
1705	12/37
1763	6/38
1838	2/39
2064	10/39
2059	6/40
2220	7/41
2337	2/42
2495	9/42
2537	5/43
2619	12/43
2699	10/44
2789	12/45
2896	12/46
3075	12/47
3206	12/48
3286	7/49
3347	7/50
3370	11/50
3396	51
3579	6/53
3635	54
3750	8/55
3798	9/56
3838	3/57
3882	12/57
3960	5/58

Some DO- series featuring Maori Music has a special label

DO 70000

70000	4/53
70246	2/56

DOX 12"

8	6/30
74	12/30
208	9/31
300	8/32
479	11/33
501	12/35
515	2/37
551	7/38
596	8/39
639	7/41
715	12/43
725	10/44
746	12/45
806	12/46
882	12/47
974	8/48

KO 8" Childrens - early series

1-6	12/31
to 18

KO 6" Childrens - late series reusing old numbers but different material. Pressed in multicoloured vinyl.

Late 1950s.

LOX 12"

5	6/30
52	12/30
128	9/31
178	11/33
216	8/35
279	2/37
332	12/37
365	7/38
408	8/39
429	6/40
484	7/41
493	2/42
526	5/43
542	12/43
564	10/44
578	12/45
638	12/47

ROX 12'

168

PR 10" (Process Record)

210	late 37
969	c.43
1384	50
1645	4/52
2795	7/56

12" 100 series from the UK was also pressed in Australia

COLUMBUS (N.Z.)

10"

1950's

CONDOR
Pressed by World Record (Australia) Pty Ltd.

C100- 10" (follows from AUSTRAL)

153 to 172

CONSTELLATION
Made by EMI (Aust) for Don Harper Musical Enterprises, Mitcham, Victoria. Don was very much into Square Dancing, although a children's series was also made.

10", 1950s.
[More data sought]

CORAL
Pressed by Festval Australia.

CS- 10"

957	8/56
1149	12/56
1233	3/57
1298	6/57
1521	9/57
1576	3/58

CORONET
KP- 10"

049	12/56
112	6/57
149	9/57
177	12/57
200	3/58
209	6/58

COSMOPOLITAN
One of the bunch of 'ethnic' labels that sprung up in the 1950's, including Aida & Avala. Russian material.

10", 1950s.
[More data sought]

CRICKET
7", 'bonus play' Children's label from W&G

XKP 238 12/56
[More data sought]

D
DAHLMONT
Found as a sticker label over English Vocalion and ACO (rare, 1925/26). Also a pressed record by Plaza, USA. The pressed label carries a credit for the "Myer Emporium", in Melbourne and was a contemporary of CLARITE and BON MARCHE.

10"

101 to 129

DECCA

Australian DECCA (Moulded Products Ltd, Melbourne)

M- 10" Masters mainly English Decca and Vocalion.

1000	early 32
1221 (last)	early 33

EMI DECCA (Sydney)

X- 10"

1145	36
1431	6/38
1731	2/40
1761	4/40
1877	2/41
1940	7/41
2001	2/42
2089	5/43
2122	12/43
2148	10/45
2191	12/45
2221	12/46
2247	12/47
2265	9/48

Y- 10"

5000	?36
5174	12/37
5201	7/38
5244	2/39
5345	8/39
5433	6/40
5581	7/41
5653	2/42
5820	12/43
5861	10/44
5892	8/45
5917	12/45
5947	6/46
5982	12/46
6048	12/47
6119	12/48
6128	3/49
6223	7/50
6257	11/50
6390	52
6417	4/53

Z 12"

700	?36
752	12/37
801	2/41
810	8/41
835	12/43
840	12/45
888	12/47
931	12/48
946	3/49

DEC- 10" NZ pressed

108	3/57
124	6/57
162	12/57
175	3/58
192	10/58

DIAPHON
A subsequent label to ROSEVILLE by Graham Connolly. Transcribed from Pyrox wire recordings.
Most were 33rpm, but a few 78rpm were released.

10" DS

1-3	8/53
4	6/54

10" MTG (Multi-Track Groove - 2 songs/side)

1-2

6/54

E
ELECTRON

Pressed between 1928 and 1929 by Clifford Industries, for Coles stores, thence Embassy. Masters from Cameo, Romeo and Gennett.

10"

5000-5123

28-29

ELMAR

Another of the small jazz labels started in the post-1945 boom. Elmar was started in Sydney by Norman Lineham, who registered the name in July 1948. Several sessions were recorded, but only Elmar 2 was issued, in October 1948.

EMBASSY

8000 10" (by Vocalion Foreign) Masters mainly Plaza/ARC.

8000 - 8114

29-30

9000 10" (by Clifford Industries)

9130 - 9330

E 10" (by Brunswick Australia)

100 to 155

WB- 10"

232

9/57

ESQUIRE

D 10" (Discovery)

131

10/51

E 10"

1006

10/49

also a few in an R3000 series

5000 10" (Mercury)

5xxx

c. 50

5- 10"

075	6/57
080	9/57

EVANGEL
A Process recording, from Columbia Graphophone (Aust) Pty Ltd, covering religious music.

10", 1950s
[More data sought]

EXCELOPHONE
Produced in Germany (later Invicta Record CO in the UK) from 1913-c1915 for John G. Murdoch & Co, London, for sale in Australia via Macrow's. Some were also a stick-over label on Guardsman. There were several series - 100, 2000, 5000 and 8000.

F
FAIRY RECORD

Pressed in England for Australia.

6" 1000 and 300 series
mid 1920s

FESTIVAL
Formed in October 1952, initial issues were on the Manhattan label.

FS 10"

803	55
874	3/56
964	8/56
1142	12/56
1192	3/57
1426	8/57
1565	12/57

FK 10"

3014

5/58

FW 10"

117

DW 10" (Country & Western)

01-04	2/57
039	6/58

EPM- 10" Extended play (2 tracks/side)

FIDELITY
Introduced c. August 1951 by Fidelity Radio Pty Ltd, of Sydney. FRPL started in 1938 selling transcription records to radio stations. The bulk of the recordings featured Bobby Limb, his wife Dawn Lake or associate Johnny O'Connor.

FY1000- 10"

1001 to 1078

51 to 56

FOSSEY'S
A paste-over label on US Regal and Oriole, for Fossey's store, 403-411 George St, Sydney.

mid-1920's

G
GAIETY
Pressed by Vocalion Australia.

P- 10" Masters from English Vocalion and USA Gennett. Labels in green, then red.

100 - 123

There appears to have been a single slightly earlier issue, serial 200 (no P- prefix)

GIBSONA

All 19 issues in 1925-26
(Label pasted over Lincoln, from 2113 to 2364. Some black on gold, others silver on black.)

GLOBE RECORD

A pre-WW1 contract pressing from Homophon gmbh, for export to Australia. Both Beka and Favorite masters were used.

GOLDEN RECORDS

6" coloured vinyl childrens records. Pressed by Golden Press Pty Ltd, in arrangement with Simon and Schuster (USA).

Late 1950s.

GOLDEN TONGUE

C- 10" flexible (Pressed by Unbreakable Disc Records, Brighton)

100 to 115

Later series was conventional shellac, pressed by Clifford Industries.
CW100- 10" (Craig Williamson store)

100 to 152

28/
29

then to
MC- 10" (Marcus Clark store)

153 to 187

GRACELON
Pressed by Clifford Industries for the Sydney Department store Grace Bros.

4000- 10" Masters from USA Cameo and Gennett.

4001 to 4034

late 29

GRAND PREE
Initially paste-overs on UK Winner, then pressed in England by Actuelle, apparently for the Perpetual Trading Association. Last few pressed locally.

Gxxx 10" (Winner number with first digit dropped, then later replaced by G)

1920-23

18000 10"

18000 to 18600?

23-27

Finally presed in Australia by Clifford Industries.
18700 10"

18700 to 18746

H
THE HERALD
Pressed by Edison (mainly) in England for export to New Zealand, see also MINSTREL

100 10" Edison-Bell masters.

1-127

1000 10" Beka masters (pressed by Beka London?)

1000-
1044

Serial numbers given are the highest seen to date.

HMV

The UK B series was pressed in Australia also.

There were many local series.

EA 10"

72	1/27
263	3/28
466	3/29
480	7/29
590	11/29
637	2/30
708	7/30
792	12/30
836	3/31
873	6/31
901	9/31
953	1/32
1150	12/32
1189	6/33
1257	12/33
1325	6/34
1737	35
1880	8/37
1953	12/37
2043	7/38
2319	8/39
2444	6/40
2686	7/41
2764	11/41
2987	5/43
3060	12/43
3142	10/44
3218	8/45
3274	12/45
3405	12/46
3572	12/47
3725	9/48
3785	2/49
3924	11/50
3982	51
4033	52
4103	52
4114	7/53
4221	3/55
4276	9/56
4319	3/58

EA 50000 10" (ex US Grand Award and Prom labels.)

50001	7/53
50007	7/54

then to
EA 51000 10"

51001	12/54
51005	3/54
51022	5/56
51039	1/57
51056	10/57
51064	5/58

EA 60000 10"

60001	11/57
60007	3/58

EB 12"

42	2/30
98	8/37
111	6/38
132	8/39
141	8/41
187	5/43
221	10/44
340	12/46
397	12/47

EC 10"

38	8/37
49	6/38
56	6/40
63	7/41
101	5/43
112	12/43
119	10/44
132	12/45
146	12/46
167	12/47

ED 12"

5	25
13	7/30
17	3/31
46	32-3
48	6/41
190	5/43
254	12/43
282	10/44
350	12/45
438	12/46
532	12/47
548	9/48

HR 10" (New Zealand series)

1	54
18	55
31	55
68	8/56
78	12/56
84	6/57
86	12/57

6004	8/57
6013	3/58

10269	8/56
10285	12/56
10296	8/57

LA 10"

2	53
6	53

TA 8"

Childrens records, pressed in yellow vinyl. Late 1950s.

J
JAZZART
Melbourne speciality label. Clemens' Musical Services, 31 Little Collins St.

JA- 10" (some 12")

1 to 62

48 to 52

JOHN MYSTERY'S
John Mystery was a Woolworth's identity and writer of children's stories.
Pressed by Recording Centre Pty Ltd, Sydney (RCP).
Various series JM (children's, coloured vinyl), NJ (New Jazz), 1000-, DD (Dual Disc), TP (Top Pops), W .

10", 1949-50

A series of record-postcards were also produced.

K
KALOPHONE

Produced by Beka UK for export to Australia, where their agents were the piano manufacturers Beale & Co. Labels were black (10" Grand) and pink (12" Master) and both featured the Lyre bird.

KISMET
Made by Parlophone Australia. A few issues, including the first three issues, were locally recorded, then English Parlophone or US Okeh masters (including the Bix Beiderbecke Gang ex Okeh 41088 on K722) were used.

K- 10"

700 - 742

late 28 to late 29

LARONDO
Recorded in Italy by Fonodisco Italiano, Milan, and pressed in Australia by The International Record Co.
mid-1950s

LEONORA

10137

25-6

LONDON

NZL- 10"

106	9/56
147	3/57
163	5/57
204	8/57
258	12/57
285	3/58
311	6/58
335	9/58
342	10/58

Also Australian-pressed L- and HL- series.
L- 10"

500	11/49
680	5/50
1028	5/51
1153	12/52
1190	8/53
1232	1/54

HL- 10"

8001	2/54
8110	12/54
8200	12/55
8355	12/56
8519	12/57

LYRIC (1)
A paste-over label on Winner, for Winkworth's stores, Sydney.

Early 1920s.

LYRIC (2)
Pressed by the Klippel Record Co.

Picks up ANGELUS 3000 series after demise of Clifford Industries.

3357	late 31
3446	late 32

There was also a short-run S- series from 1000 to 1006.

M
MACQUARIE
Focussed on Italian and German material sourced from Fonit and Lindstrom-Kristall-Imperial - not an especially bright idea in 1939! At 4/- they were also expensive.

10"

518	39
607	11/39
635	3/40
660 (last)	9/40

An 8" EL- series ran to only 2 issues - 201 and 202, these were both Bird call imitations.
Macquarie also processed private recordings. Example

MANHATTAN
A label of Festival Records Pty Ltd. Local masters as well as Savoy and others.

FM- 10"
from late 1952.

2	11/52
13	12/52
46	3/53
64	4/53

EPM- 10”

94	3/53
124	7/53

MELLOTONE

6" record, pressed in late 1920's by Crystalate for export to Australia.

MELOTONE
Pressed by Clifford Industries for Foy & Gibson stores.

10000- 10"

10000 to 10094

29/30

First 5 issues prefixed FG-

MEMPHIS
Jazz label from William Holyoak, Adelaide. Pressed by A.R.C. Initially priced at 10/-, reducing to 8/- in late 1948.

10"

1 to 8

c. 48

MERCURY
The US label was pressed in both Australia and New Zealand.

1950s

M- 10"

4163	8/56
4220	3/57
4256	6/57
4267	8/58

MGM
MGM records were pressed in Australia and New Zealand

100- 10"

344

12/50

M-G-M 5000 10"
1950s

MICKEY POWELL
Australia experienced a Square Dance craze aound 1954, and several smal local labels capitalised on this.
Pressed in Melbourne, mid-1950s.

MINSTREL
Pressed mainly by Edison Bell in England for export to New Zealand, see also HERALD.

1- 10"

1-60

13-14

2000- 10" (pressed from Favorite masters - by Favorite?)

2000-
2020

13-14

Serial numbers given are the highest seen to date.

MUSOLA
Produced in the UK by Crystalate from 1917 for the Orchestrelle Co, for export to Australia. See also PHONETO.

NBS
Australia experienced a Square Dance craze around 1954. The National Broadcasting Service got in on the act.
Pressed in Melbourne, mid-1950s.

NURSERY RHYME

Not to be confused with the much commoner UK Crystalate 6" NURSERY RHYMES record.
6"

1 - 9

1931

O
ORPHEUS
Custom pressing by Clifford Industries.

10" 7000 (very intermittent)

7021 - 7255

c.30

P
PACIFIC
An A.R.C. pressing contemporaneous with the RODEO label.

10- 10"

0001	1/49
0033	6/50
0072	11/51
0078	5/52
0082	last

then
PB- 10"

083-123

25- 10" (red/silver)

00-1-
0013

Parallel release with TASMAN in New Zealand
W- 10"

007	1/49
042	6/50
083	11/51
095	53

PALINGS
Pressed in Canada by Compo, exclusively for Australia.

10"

19000 - 19009

25-26

A single issue numbered 629 is also known.

PANACHORD
Pressed by Brunswick (Australia) Ltd

P12000 10"

12096	6/31
12166	9/31
12206 (last)	11/31

Some 26 issues (Ex Brunswick) in late 1931 were numbered counting backwards from 12000, for reasons unknown.

PARAMOUNT (I)
(No relation to the famous US label)
Produced in Sydney by Clifford Industries, for retailer Scott Henderson & Co.

2500 10"

2500	mid 28
2573	late 28

PARAMOUNT (II)
(No relation to the famous US label)
Produced in Melbourne by Magasound Recording Co.
P- 10"

001 - 012

PARLOPHONE

A 10" The first 108 issues in the popular A- series were pressed in London.

2108	12/26
2272	10/27
2416	3/28
2643	9/28
2900	12/29
3018	6/30
3084	12/30
3143	6/31
3284	12/31
3406	9/32
3557	2/33
3993	12/34
to
6000	12/34
6067	4/35
6278	3/36
6631	36
6741	12/37
6845	6/38
6984	2/39
7118	8/38
7210	6/40
7280	2/41
7317	7/41
7379	5/42
7421	5/43
7464	10/44
7488	8/45
7506	12/45
7558	12/46
7627	12/47
7654	3/48
7699	12/48
7711	3/49
7729	6/49
7740	7/50
7750	11/50
7777	5/51
7790	7/52
7805	53
7833	54
7988	2/58

AR- 12" Half are Richard Tauber

100	4/28
112	6/28
139	6/31
190	9/32
260	12/35
310	6/37
320	6/38
352	8/39
364	8/41
377	10/44
382	12/45
390	12/46
to
407	7/55

AR1000- 12"

1000	6/28
1012	12/28
1049	11/32
1086	12/35
1094	2/39
1133	11/47

A4000- 12"

4008	6/28
4034	12/28
4281	6/31
4307	11/32
4486	12/37
4532	6/40
4545	6/41
to
4563	4/55

A5000- 12" Black label

5000	1/29
5034	11/32

GAA5000- 10" For the ethnic Greek community

5007

post-1945

NZP 10"

5002	55
5008	8/56

NZP 10"

39	8/56
62	8/57

NZP-3000 10"

3040	6/57
3050	12/57
3075	8/58

TTA1000- 10" For the ethnic Italian community

1006

post-1945

PEROPHONE
This label followed on from COLONIAL PEROPHONE. carrying on the catalogue to at least 454.

PHILIPS

B21000- 10" (Locally recorded)

21001	6/53
-last	11/57

B24000- 10"

24506

9/54

B25000- 10"

25407

9/54

B26000- 10"

26113

9/54

P17000- 10"

17219

9/54

P19000- 10"

19097

9/54

P24000- 10"

24522

9/54

P26000- 10"

26295

3/58

P28000- 10"

28514

9/54

PB100- 10"

308

9/54

P37000- 10" (Locally recorded)

37000-
37051

mid 54 to mid 57

PHONETO
Produced in the UK by Crystalate from 1917 for the Orchestrelle Co, for export to Australia. See also MUSOLA.

PLANET
Pressed in Sydney by A.R.C.

PL 10"

1-3

4/51

PLAZA
Custom pressing by Clifford Industries.

10" 3000 (intermittent, uses Angelus catalogue)

3095 - 3124

c.30

10" 6000 (intermittent)

6024 - 6039

c.30

POLYDOR
Pressed by Vocalion, Melbourne, all between March and August 1928.

W- 10"

101 to 112

21000- 10" Locally pressed from German masters, continued series previously imported since 1926.

21xxx

H- 12"
1950s

POSSUM
Pressed in the UK by Vocalion and marketed in Australia in 1917-18 through Allan & Co.

PRESTIGE

PS-0000 10"

0009	8/57
0020	12/57
0043	9/58

PS-1000 10"

1001	2/57
1032	5/57
1057	12/57

PRESTOPHONE
A long running label under Reginald Albert (Rex) Shaw, of whom more should be written. The early studio was Radio Associated Services Ltd - note the same initials.
A wide variety of prefixes were used, apparently against the same number series, including some re-used with differing prefixes. 10" and 12" could appear on the same prefix. There were also several different label styles.

RAS 10"

1	40
163	50
226	50

A 10"

56-60

2/56

X1000- 10"

1009

8/37

V 10"

1001	5/37
1005	8/37
1014	4/38

X1 10"

1-2

late 44

Other series known are P-, PR-, RC- & PD-

PROCESS RECORD
Columbia's private recording service

PR- 10"

1	37
293	1/41
1075	12/46
1907	2/54
last	59

to EMI Custom Service

They also pressed various other labels, recognisable from the Sxxxx matrix, such as Aida, Evangel and the unnamed item below.

Percy Nicholls (tenor), seen in both black and purple.

R
RADIOLA

DB1000- 10" (William Flynn and the 3DB Orch, ex Radio 3DB)

1001-4

mid 51

RRM- 10" (Radiola Recording Melbourne)

003-6

mid 51

RRS- 10" (Radiola Recording Sydney)

007

mid 51

Later issues with the A- prefix were drawn from Polygon UK (P suffix, gold & blue label), or Telefunken (T suffix, gold & red label)

MR 10"

1049

2/56

RCA

20- 10"
New Zealand series best known for Elvis on 20-6000 to -7000 titles. Mid-late 1950s.

50000 10"

50120 to 50199

60000 10"

60005	3/58
60044	10/58

REGAL-ZONOPHONE

G20000- 10"
The early part of this series (to about G21700) were issued on the Regal label, although some issues still in the catalogue were later repressed on R-Z, so can be found on both.

20009	2/27
20245	6/28
20390	4/29
20566	11/29
20595	2/30
20700	7/30
20825	1/31
21081	9/31
21325	3/32

G20000- 10"

21380	8/32
21758	7/33
21973	6/34
22436	11/35
22713	6/36
23120	8/37
23356	6/38
23618	9/38
23876	2/40
24041	9/40
24166	2/41
24377	7/41
24460	2/42
24707	5/43
24853	10/44
24924	6/45
24960	12/45
25117	4/47
25153	12/47
25263	12/48
25273	3/49
25284	11/50
25351	11/52
25367	2/53
25379	1/54
25393	11/54
25423	5/55
25434	1/56
25481	1/57
25505	10/57

G25267 onwards is C&W only, and G25294 onwards Australian C&W artists at that.

G 30000 12"

30009	4/29
30027	2/30
30049	1/31
30072	6/35
30073	6/36
30083	53

G 40000 12"

40101	8/37
40143	6/38
40239	2/40
40275	7/41
40308	8/45

RNZ 10"

101 - 103

REGENT
Pressed by Clifford Industries, mostly from Cameo & Gennett masters.

R 10"

1020 - 1078

late 28

REXOPHONE

Another records produced by Homophon gmbh for export to Australia from 1911. The importers were Jackson & Macdonald, of Sydney. Early labels were plain gold on green, in both 10" and 12" sizes.

In 1915 a new multicoloured design was introduced for records produced by Homophon Co UK, featuring Pan playing his pipes to a reclining female.

The final purple-label series was produced by J.E. Hough Ltd (of Edison-Bell fame). Production seems to have ceased in 1917.

RODEO
Produced in both Australia and New Zealand (where it continued on where Tasman stopped)

10- 10"

0001	1/49
0018	6/50
0067 last

then to
R 10"

117	6/55
125	12/56
134	8/57

A TA- series ran in parallel. A few issues are known in an NZ R900 series.

RONDOPHONE

Manufactured in Germany by Homophon gmbh, and sold in Australia between 1912 and 1914, probably by the British Record Pty Ltd..

ROSEVILLE

Named after the Sydney suburb that Graham Connolly, the producer, lived in. Jazz concert recordings.
12" PA (3 issues) and 10" PB (2-3 issues). Al l 1950-51.

S
SAVOY
Pressed by Vocalion, Melbourne.
1000- 10"

1000-
1079

SELECTON

I- ?"

[More data sought]

SOUTHERN CROSS
A special label pressed by Columbia Graphophone's process studio. Produced by The Musicians' Union of Australia.

STARR
Another Clifford Industries pressing, Cameo & Gennett masters. Sold through Coles stores.

10" 700

700 - 751

c.30

STEBBING (New Zealand)

S 10"

101	51
118	52
132	53
159	54

J 10"

101

STERLING
Pressed by Clifford Industries (although label states Sterling Record Co).

F1100- 10"

1100 to 1172

29/
30

F- prefix dropped after 1109

STONKER

Late 1950s or even later.
Looking like a normal 7" 45rpm disc, this plays at 78rpm, and was apparently a one-off spoof of some type - note title (HOT MINCE PIES PLEASE), composer and artist names.
Any information on the production of this gratefully received.

SUMMIT

10"

100	late 31
238	late 32

6" Baby Summit

50 to 58

late 31

SWAGGIE

Label owned by Graeme Bell, Jazz musician.
50 10"

51	49
56	50
57	53

S- 10"

T
TABERNACLE

1950's 10"
Religious music

TANZA (New Zealand)

To Assist New Zealand Artists. Pressed by the Recording Corporation of New Zealand, TANZA was New Zealand's first locally produced gramophone label.

Z (except first four which were unlettered, then 5 through 8 prefixed by 'T')

1	2/49
24	50
77	12/51
105	4/52
157	12/52
187	6/53
212	54
235	12/54
252	55
290	56
303	57
312	58

A CL series (very short) ran for classical recordings. There were also CF and CK (rare).

TASMAN (N.Z.)

TA 10"

001 - 050

to Rodeo (N.Z.)

10- 10" (Parallel issues with PACIFIC 10- series)

0001, 0002, 0006

1/49

W- 10" (Parallel issues with PACIFIC 10- series)

007	1/49
042	6/50
083	11/51
095	53

TEMPO

G 10"

1-3

mid 49

T 10"

001-
014

Sep 48 to early 50

U
UNBREAKABLE DISC RECORDS

See Aeroplane.

UNIVERSAL DOUBLE DISC

Yet another label from the UK Homophone Co, pressed in Germany for the Australian market around 1912-14. Labels were gold on green or black on white, with the series running from 8000 to 8400. Issues up to 8200 used Homophone masters, after that Polyphon-Klingsor-Pilot were used.

UNIVERSAL RECORD
Very similar in appearance to REXOPHONE and RONDOPHONE, and also pressed by Homophon gmbh prior to WW1, this may also be an Australian-only export.

V
VOCALION

The Aeolian Company in Sydney started importing English Vocalion records in 1925. Some with Australian content, composers or artists, while recorded in England, appear to have only been issued in Australia. In November 1927 the first local pressings from English masters for Vocalion and Aco were issued.

XA18000- 10"

18001	28
18081 (last)	30

500- 10" A mix of ARC, English Broadcast and Australian masters. Broadcast masters required smaller size labels.

500	7/30
717	10/30
769	4/31
853	8/31

VM100- 7" Vocalion Midget. Nursery Rhyme on one side, public domain song on t'other.
Late 1930, about 16 issues.

VOX HUMANA
Produced by Pathe Freres in London, from US or UK masters from Actuelle or Perfect, for the same sales outlet as Grand Pree (the Perpetual Trading Association).

VH 10"

1	24
68 (last)	26

W
W&G

Mid 1950s 10".

SPN 379 9/57
XPN 491 12/57

Custom record.

WAFER

Flexible 10" card-based, by World Record (Australia) using Austral matrixes.
1925.

(THE) WENDY
Manufactured in Britain for World Record (Australia) (see Austral)

5"
1924-25.

WILCO

10"

0 to 100	early 49
124	1/51

WORTH

7000 10"

7000	late 29
7065	early 30

X
XX
A Bill Miller production, pressed by Australian Record Co. Reissues of classic US Jazz performances.

10"

1	3/51
15	mid 52

Z
ZODIAC (New Zealand)

Z100 10"

102	51
129	late 52
148	53

Z1000 10"

1001	57
1007	9/57
1052	58
1104	58

ZONOPHONE

A block of numbers was set aside primarily for New Zealand and Australia.

3000-

3000	5/12
3032	6/13
3049	9/14
3073	10/15
3084	11/16
3105	10/17
3111	7/18
3195	10/20
3221	7/21
3363	2/23
3748	/24
3861	12/25

A 12"

286	8/25
301	1/27
337	10/28
344	4/29
380	3/31

EE 10"

21	2/27
105	10/28
132	4/29
168	11/29
181	2/30
197	7/30
214	12/30
225	3/31
253	9/31
340	32
379	6/35

EF 10"

1	6/26
5	2/27
19	10/28
22	4/29
27	11/29
38	9/31

Other series were also pressed in Australia.

The following Australian labels (most post 1945) are also known to exist, and will be added above when some more data is known about them.

A.F.O.B.S. (Australian Federation of Broadcasting Stations), AMPLIDISC, A.R.C., ARMSTRONG, ASCA (Australian Society of Composers and Arrangers), ASICO, AWA MARCONI, BLUE LAGOON, BLUE RIBAND, CAPITAL, CHRISTIE'S, CYRIL STEVENS, DALMA, EDISAM, FANFARE, FEATURAUDIO, FLAMINGO, GEORGIA, GILPIN, GOLDEN (6"), GREEK RECORDING CO, HAYMAN HOTEL, HERSCHELLS, HIT OF THE YEAR, HI-TONE, HOHNER, HOLDEN, HOMECRAFT, KINELAB, LEGIONNAIRE, LIBERTY, MAGNASOUND, MELODIANA, MELODY, METRONOME, MICROPHON, MUSIC FOR THE FORCES, NATIONAL, ODYSSEY, OLYMPIA, PARK, PERFECTONE, PITMAN, RANCH, RADIO CENTRE (RC), SILVERTONE, SOUTHERN CROSS, SOUVENIR, SPRING, TELEDISC, TRULIFE, UNIVERSAL, VARSITY, VIS RADIO, WATTLE, WHITE ROSE, ZENITH.

Also these 'sticker' labels are known (and over what).

AMFONOLA (US Regal), BANNER (US Regal), CAMDEN (Aco), CAMEO (UK Regal), FOSSEYS (US Regal/Oriole), GOLD BELL (UK Aco), JOYPHONE (Brunswick), LILY OF THE VALLEY (UK Columbia/Winner), McWHIRTERS (UK Columbia), MASTERPIECE (US Cameo), MELBAPHONE (UK Winner), MELODISC (Brunswick), MUSIPHONE (Duophone), OLYMPIC (UK Imperial), OMAH/OMAR (Aco/Vocalion), POPULAR (US Lincoln), PYRAMID (Can Apex), REALTONE (Beltona), REGENT (UK Regent), ROBERTO (UK Columbia), ROSEBUD (UK Columbia/Regal), SERENOLA (Banner/Gennett), SIMOLIAN (various), SNOWS (UK Parlophone), SPECIALLY IMPORTED (US Columbia), STAR (Aco), THE CAPITOL (Aus Parlophone), TEMPO (Oriole), WEYMARK (US Cameo).

and also these labels from organisations offering recording services, generally 'acetates' or radio transcriptions.

4BH, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING COMMISSION, BEACON R.S., BOURNE RECORDING, BROADCAST EXCHANGE SERVICES (1) (2), BRS (BYER INDUSTRIES) (1) (2), EARWAY RECORDING SERVICE, HARMONY (1) (2), RECORDING CENTRE , VALLEY RADIO & ELECTRICAL , VITATONE

REFERENCES.

With thanks to Mike Sutcliffe (Australian Record & Music Review, innumerable articles and private correspondence) and Ross Laird, especially his recent book "Sound Beginnings" (1999) & private correspondence. Also Jack Mitchell, author of Australian Jazz on Record 1925-1980 for help with the smaller labels. And most recently Alan Vogt.

Plus other resources including these journals [ML=Mitchell Library, Sydney, AT=Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington]:

Paling's Annual 1885-1937 (ML)
Australian Musician & Music Trades Review 1927 (ML)
Australian Phonograph Monthly & Music Trades Review 1929-30 (ML)
Music in Australia 1925-31 (ML)
The Record Monthly 1956-9 (Christchurch N.Z.) (AT)
Record company monthly supplements, various 1937-1958 (AT)
Record companies dealer catalogues & supplements (AT, personal)

Further References

Australian Jazz Journal 1948-57
"Australian Jazz on Record 1925-80" J. Mitchell (1988).
"Just For The Record", John K Smith (2001)
"For The Record - a history of the recording industry in New Zealand", Bryan Staff & Sheran Ashley (2002)

One or two of some rarer items taken from items offered for sale on eBay and elsewhere. Thanks go the the various anonymous sellers.
Thanks also to gramophoneshane for some of the more obscure recording services labels.

Comments (constructive), corrections and additions always welcome => EMAIL ME.

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