Britannic Record (England) / c. 1910
Corporate background:
Thanks to Adam
Miller for the following info:
“[From Don Taylor's English 78
Picture Book,] Britannic dates from
about 1910 and were sold for 2s. 6d. each under a
‘tally-man’ system (as was John Bull). The client
contracted to buy a certain number of discs over a year
(usually 50) at a fixed price. They were presented with a
Lindström-built ‘Ercophone’ gramophone, which
became their sole property at the end of the contract. The
'tally-man' went door to door with the record catalogue taking
orders and collecting the cash. Britannic used matrices from
Beka, Edison Bell, Nicole and the American Record Co. The
pressing was originally done by Edison Bell, later by the Disc
Record Co. of Harrow.”
Design: Britannia,
the Romano-Celtic warrior goddess long associated with Britain,
leans back against a rock (presumably by the sea-shore, her
usual habitat), happily listening to a phonograph draped with
the Union Jack. Though retaining her Corinthian martial helmet,
she has dispensed with her vicious pronged trident. In keeping
with Victorian mores, her right breast, usually exposed, has
been covered with a modest frilled gown.
Thematically, the scene has much in common
with the American Record label,
where music has calmed the ‘savage breast.’
Label scan courtesy of UK music researcher
and collector Bill Dean-Myatt.