[78-L] New member / questions

[Matthew Duncan]

Hi all
 
I have just become a member of this list and just wanted to introduce myself.
 
I am a 23 year old collector of 78s, LPs of music from the 78 period and also 45s/EPs of the same plus Rock n Roll, Rockabilly, Cajun, Zydeco, Skiffle, Hillbilly Bop, Country etc. My oldest record is a Columbia disc from 1902 found at a flea market and my 'newest' records in terms of the music they contain are early 70s cajun records on small labels from Louisiana and Texas. Apart from these most of my music tastes end around 1964 with the advent of beat music - cajun and rockabilly items post 1964 are the exception to the rule. I would say 95% of my collection or more is 1902 to 1964 and most of those records are 1920 to 1960.
 
I particularly collect pre war jazz, swing, big band and blues although I have many WW2 era blues and post WW2 blues items.  I collect 50s rock n roll/rockabilly on 78 but mainly on 45 as these crop up more often.
 
I have a modest (but growing) collection of music hall, variety, marching bands, opera, light vocal and very early jazz and ragtime on acoustic discs.
 
I am based in the UK which is good and bad for record collecting but I have bought records in the USA on my 2 visits there in 2007 and 2008.  I have many foreign issues of records in my collection too for example from around Europe, Australia etc too.
I have been collecting about 12 years and spent my pocket money and later my newspaper delivery money on records and have taken my childhood record obsession into adulthood...!!
I look forward to conversations and topics here.
 
I do have a question though.
 
I have just obtained a disc from the early 1900s on the GRAMOPHONE MONARCH label - it is 12" size and single sided. I know this was part of the Gramophone and Typewriter company and this in turn became the 'dog and gramophone' pictured HMV label which was the UK equivalent of Victor.
 
I would like to know the recording date for it though...
 
HM Band of the Coldstream Guards on Gramophone Monarch Record 0131.
Matrix number - 2167f
Selection - PIRATES OF PENZANCE (SULLIVAN)
 
I know that around 1910 the dog and gramophone logo was employed to discs and in 1912 records with music on both sides were made by the Gramophone Company so is prior to these events, maybe 1909??
 
Any help or more info on the company history would be helpful....I need to invest in some books on the subject for sure!!!
 
Thanks and all the best
Matthew Duncan
Stockton on Tees, England, UK.