Illustra drawings: proof or spoilage?

A few months ago Desiree Muis sent me some remarkable stuff. At first sight it seem to be Illustra records, picture discs released by the Illustra Record Trading Co. N.Y., but if you look better you will miss the hole for the spindle in the centre. Desiree told me, that these 4 ( in fact two double sided) pictures are printed illustrations, apparently proofs or spoilage for the 1930s Illustra advertisement records. She found photos from these drawings at this Flexible Records blog too and asked me for additional information. Print used for a Illustra record which has originally the song Maria, Mari (E. di Capua) by Cav. Salvatore Salvati (tenor). It was originally recorded in Berlin-Marienfelde February 1930 by Tri-Ergon (matrix number 03245). (collection: Desiree Muis)
During the 1930s (flexible) advertisement records were an upcoming medium for promotion. In the US flexible records like Flexo and Durium were promoting products with its flexible "plastic" or carboard records - in Europe Dubrico, Sound Distributor did the same on a cardboard base - another firm was Illustra, which had an office in Amsterdam.
This proof was used for another Illustra record for Gitanes cigarettes. (collection Desiree Muis)
The Illustra Record Trading Co. N.V. ( in Holland it was known as Illustra Handel Maatschappij N.V. ) released numerous colourfull advertisement records like the ones on this page.
Illustration for an Illustra record entitled Bombes sur Monte Casrlo ( L' amour des marins). (ca. 1931) (collection: Desiree Muis)
One of the most well known Illustra record must have been the Louis Davids Wat een meisje weten moet. The Dutch compilation album Wat een meisje weten moet - Reclame Klassieken, released by the Theater Instituut Nederland and De Weergever, both in Amsterdam, has this record reissued, like as great collection of pre-war (Dutch) advertisement and promo records. The prints Desiree sent me seem to be proofs for some other Illustra recordings. Proof for the Go Home and Tell Your Mother 78rpm for Citroën ( ca. 1931) (Collection: Desiree Muis)
The Flexible Record blog has published a previous contribution about this label, entitled Illustra Citroën Picture disc and gives all information I could find. Desiree told me: Het zijn ronde tekeningen, dubbelzijdig, doorsnede 23cm. (= It are round drawings, printed double-sided, with a cross-section of 23 cm. ). One of the pictures has the sentence: specimen non-destine a la vente ( = Not for sale), which seems to prove once more that this are proofs, not for publication, although it is possible that this sentence was used on the original record too, as it was free distributed. Well - a lot of questions about this rare stuff - hope you can help us to find the truth:

Where this proofs for Illustra records? Or is this spoilage? Maybe Desiree can tell us if the two drawings on both sides are printed exact on the same place - if not, it could have been spoilage and thrown away before the actually process of pressing the groove had taken place.
What is the actual cross-section for the original Illustra Flexible gramophone record? Do have the drawings the same size?
It seems that the crosses around the picture has to do with the print-proof. Is that correct?
Are these proofs rare? Did someone ever seen this kind of stuff?
Thanks Desirée for sharing these photos with us.

Deze blog is ook in het Nederlands verschenen op de Keep Swinging blog als: Illustra-tekeningen: misdruk of drukproef?

Hans Koert
keepswinging@live.nl

Unity 407

A Light Along The Way -
OTIS L. NEWTON with Orchestra Accomp.

The reverse is:
Lead Kindly Light -
(prob.)? MORRILL MOORE Organ
Recorded ca. 1926

Released as UNITY 407

Unity was (New) Flexo recording. This flexible record was recorded an produced by Unity School of Christianity in Kansas City.

The sleeve is an original (New) Flexo sleeve with instructions how to play this record.

Thanks Jerry for pointing me to this record label which was presented on eBay

I wrote about another Unity record in my collection in a previous blog.

Hans Koert
keepswinging@live.nl

Goodson 132

A few days ago Heather H. asked for information about a Goodson flexible Record she found in her store. Love to share the discographical information for this Goodson Record nr. 132.

Goodson Record nr. 132 ( photo courtesy: Heather H.)
3568
WALKING WITH SUSIE
Conrad - Mitchel - Gottler
Fox-Trot with Vocal Chorus.
Broadway Merry Makers

Recorded ca. July - August 1929 by the Grey Gull studio in New York City. The A-take was released as Goodson Records No. 132 and as Radiex 1762.
3596
YOU AND I
Sheppard
Fox-Trot with Vocal Chorus
University Syncopators

Recorded August 1929 in New York City in the Grey Gull Studios. The B-take was released as Goodson Records No.132 and as The Syncopators on Radiex 1758.

The personel of these records is unknown, but Brian Rust gives a list of musicians that were available to make these records, most white men, that played in the numerous dance bands of the late 1920s, like Mike Mosiello, Andy Sannella, Al Duffy, Frank Banta, Charles Magnante, Tommy Dorsey and Charles Butterfield. The tunes were recorded by a studio band featuring the musicians "of the day" and were labeled with fantasy names like the High Society Seven, White Way Players, the Cotton Pickers Orchestra or the two names mentioned above. The masters of the recordings were used for other cheap record labels like Radiex, Madison or Grey Gull.

Previous blogs about the Goodson Records: Goodson Records : Pliable - Unbreakable - Featherweight Goodson and Boots Goodson 7001 Music on the Antarctic

Sources: The Goodson Record Discography - Arthur Badrock
and the American Dance Band Discography 1917-1942- Brian Rust

Hans Koert
Author of the Hit of the Week-Durium Discographies.
keepswingin@live.nl

Brian Rust ( 1922 - 2011 )

On the 5th of January, 2011 Brian Rust passed away, 88 years old. For most 78rpm jazz and jazz-related record collectors his name was connected with the extreme valuable discographies he compiled during his life.
Every record collector has a least one of his books within reach. Although he wasn't active in this field any more because of his age, his name is mentioned at least hundred times a day when collectors quarrel about their beloved records: Rust says .......
Among the books he compiled his best known is the Jazz Records 1897 - 1942. For me, as a teenager, it was the first book I could affort, although I had to make a hard decision, due to shortage of money: Rust or a pile of LPs. Later I bought the British Dance Bands On Record 1911 to 1945. The third important Rust was very difficult to obtain, as it had been out of print for a long time: The American Dance Band Discography 1917-1942. I remember that I had to make trips by train from Zeeland, the region where I live, to The Hague ( two hours by train) to consult Rust, as is was the nearest place to find a copy of the Dance Bands Discography. Thanks to a collector who finished record collecting, I found my own copy. The Complete Entertainment Discography was my last Rust - I copied it, page by page ( on a photocopier). I remember that I sent him a copy of my finished Hit of the week - Durium Record Discographies and that he sent me his congratulations and (new) information about the Goodson Records, for me a new discographical project. ( Source: Happy Birthday, Brian - Hans Koert ( blog for his 84th birthday))Annette Hanshaw and Brian Rust (1959)
In December I posted two blogs according the 1920s vocalist Annette Hanshaw. Brian visited her late 1950s and reissued her records. Love to repost here the two links to these contributions

Annette Hanshaw: A great vocalist remembered

Annette Hanshaw: I Hated Those Records

This short contribution can be found in English at the Flexible-Records blog. and in Dutch at the Keep Swinging blog.

Hans Koert

keepswinging@live.nl

Brian Rust, record collector, jazz historian, discographer passed away, 88

Goodson 7001

Thanks to Ruud Tollenaar from Middelburg ( in the south west part of The Netherlands) I can show you a special Goodson record, released to promote Sketch Virginia Cigarettes.

Goodson Record 7001 ( photo courtesy: Ruud T.)

Fred Hall and his Orchestra: I CAN'T DO WITHOUT YOU - Matrix number: 31270 -
Catalogue number: 7001 - Recorded in New York City, June 1928. - Released in London January 1930

Goodson Record 7001 ( photo courtesy: Ruud T. )

Pennsylvania Melody Makers: WHEN WE'RE APART - Matrix number: 31278 Catalogue number: 7001 - Recorded New York City, ca June, 1928. - Released in London January 1930

These 7-inch flexible Goodson Records were released by Goodson early 1930. There must have been a dozen of these records released. They were put on sale in January 1930 and cost one shilling each. You could buy six in a packet, which were labeled as "Amazing Value - 12 Dance hits for six shillings". As you can see the first issue was recorded in the US in 1928 and released two years later, so it were no real hits anymore. A half year later the series stopped and was no longer mentioned. (source: The Goodson discography - Arthur Badrock)

Sleeve Goodson Record (1930) ( photo courtesy: Ruud T. )

Arthur Badrock doesn't mention in his discography this series as an advertisement series for Sketch cigaretttes. As the cover of the Goodson Record is written in Dutch ( not the entire sleeve is in Dutch, only the "manual " ( Leest dit nauwkeurig na!) ( original Goodson text: Read Carefully) and the promo text ONBREEKBAAR - ONBRANDBAAR - LICHT - BUIGZAAM ( original Goodson text in English: UNBREAKABLE - FEATHERWEIGHT - PLIABLE ) it might be possible that this Sketch series was exclusively released for Holland years later ( mid 1930s)

Joop Goudswaard wrote about these 7000-series in Doctor Jazz Magazine nº 103 (1984) and heard from an eldery gentleman, while hunting at the Rotterdam fleamarket that the records were sold at tobacco stores only.

Stroboscope Goodson Record 7001 ( photo courtesy: Ruud T. )

This is a stroboscope which was found inside the sleeve. It was released by Fa. M. Spiering in Dordrecht, a city near Rotterdam. The shop sold gramophones, and most of the time they also sold gramophone records, but it is, of course, not known if this stroboscope was originally part of the record and sleeve.

If you have more info about these 7-inch Goodson Records, or you can show us a label "without" the Sketch Virginia Cigarettes adverisement banner, please contact.

Thanks Ruud for sharing this nice little Goodson Record.

This contribution will be posted too in Dutch at the Keep Swinging blog.

Hans Koert

keepswinging@live.nl

Titan

Jerry pointed me to three rare 78rpm flexible records from the 1930s offered at a well known auction site.
At least two of the records have the Titan label - the third one, according to the information of the seller, seems to be a Titan ( related) record too.
"How Would You Like a Free Turkey?' & "A Phonogram from Elliott and Elliott"

"Mussehl & Westphal Saw Solo/Saw Duet"

"Seasons Greetings from the MJB Demi-Tasse Revue" (part 1 & 2)

The info on the label is copied from the sellers information.

I love to know more about these records or the label. The fact that both Titan records have the addition: Electrical Recording indicates that they could be from the late 1920s. Accordinbg to the information it seems that all three records can be played double sided.

Can someone help to identify and date these early flexible records?

Thanks Jerry for pointing me to these rare 78rpm flexible records.

Hans Koert
keepswinging@live.nl
Twitter: @KeepSwinging

Goodson Records: Pliable - Unbreakable - Featherweight

The GOODSON GRAMOPHONE RECORD CO. LTD. London, England - as its full manufacturers identification was labelled, produced commercial recordings between 1929 and 1931. One of the characteristic features of these white flexible records, made of a non-flammable material called Rhodoid was, that it had no separate (paper) label around the spindle hole like regular records, but its complete surface could be used for printed messages.
The Goodson Records ( collection: Hans Koert)

Goodson Records was a short lived record label which produced a flexible type of records in England between December 1929 and February 1931. They were made of a white opaque celluloid named Rhodoid, which was labelled as Non-Inflammable ( The earliest Goodson gave problems, as they happened to be easily inflammable).

Aroun d 1930 numerous producers of flexible records tried to make a living by producing light unbreakable gramophone records, that could be produced cheap in large quantities. The vulnerable shellac records were expensive to produce and broke easily. For the cheap flexible record the Great Depression seemed a godsend - the people didn't had two pennies to rub against each other and cheap records, like the cardboard Hit of the Weeks, produced more then 350,000 copies a week. The cardboard Hit of the Weeks are still best known and are fully listed on the Hit of the Week-Durium Discographies. They were playable on one side only, but with almost 5-minutes playing time, Durium suggested in 1932, that two complete songs were on one side - Two "Big" Hits. The self-changing record, the British Durium records promoted itself, the record you don't have to turn around. It was flexible and unbreakable and a promotional picture showed, that you could even use a hammer or shoe to test how "durable" the records was. And they are ....... more then 80 years later most Hit of the Weeks are still playable.

Big City Blues - Mermphis Jazzers ( 1929) ( Goodson Nº 131) (Hans Koert collection)

Other records were made of transparent plastics, like Flexo, Filmophone, Phonycord or Virginia, but most of them didn't survive time ... they warped easily and most of them are unplayable now. Goodson, was, in my opinion, the best of the rest. It promoted itself as Double-Sided and they were Featherweight. The best way to proof its qualities was playing it, Goodson suggested: Have stood the test, their mellow tone, full volume, clear cut notes and absence of surface noise, justify our claim to have produced a perfect record. Reading this, it brings a smile to your face ............ , but also other record companies like Durium greatly exaggerated its audio qualities. Goodson Records do not break and scratching does not harm them. They are flexible and so light in weight that sixty can be carried in a portable gramophone. Well, I've tried to store half of it ( my collection of Goodson contains two dozens copies )and it just fit into my Viva-tonal Columbia Grafolona Nº109A 1929 gramophone, but with space for a handful - but 60? Durium suggests in a Dutch advertisement that Minstens 35 platen kunnen in een koffergramofoon mee ( = At least 35 records can be stored in a portable gramophone) - well that seems a more realistic number ........ although if I study the Veckans skiva sleeve picture?

A handfull of Goodson to store into a portable gramophone, but 60 copies? ( photo courtesy: Hans Koert)

Listen to one of those Goodson records: Breakaway by the Cosmopolitan Dance Players, one of the numerous anonymous studio bands directed by Fred Hall from the Grey Gull Studios (June 1929)

A great view: a Goodson playing on my portable gramophone ( photo courtesy: Hans Koert)

The Goodson Records are unique - did you know that these records are the only records with the tune-information available on both sides of the record? The record has no (paper) label around the spindle hole which means that the info can be printed everywhere - also over the groove. The label info on the commercial releases is printed large in the middle of the record - you can't miss the hand with the bended record. In the four quarters you can read four times the same track information for both sides. As the Goodson were complete printable on both sides it was the ideal spot to promote events or advertise products. Like Durium Goodson records were used for promotion and advertisements for brands like Boots The Chemists (Always Open Day and Night), Wellsbach Lamps (United for Service To Give Good Gaslight), Henleys and British Record Washer Soap ( A free Goodson Record without advertising matter for Eighteen Cartons of Britisch record Washer Soap).
part of a Goodson record catalogue (July 1930). (negative) ( Thanks to Brian Rust)

Goodson produced also custom records, selling its surface for promotional messages. In a few previous blogs I told you about the records, released to promote the Mawson Antarctic Expedition of 1929 and about the a record issued at the 1929-1930 Exposicion Internacional de Barcelona. In one of the latest Flexible Records blogs I asked your help to complete a series of scans with Boots The Chemists advertisements. Hope you can help us.

Tomorrow I hope to post a blog about Goodson Records in Dutch, but not, as usual, a translation of the above one. Dutch visitors, anxious to learn more about this subject, normally understand English well. I love to repost an article from Het Leven from the 29th of November, 1930 entitled Goodson Gramophone Record; een nieuw geluid!

This contribution has also been published at the Keep Swinging blog.

Hans Koert

keepswinging@live.nl