[78-L] Victor Continental Gems

[Michael Biel]

I have several copies of V-1, on both Scroll and later ring labels.  It
was a very long-lived record and is fairly common.  I don't think that
the series was changed into Standard Records like Steve Barr indicated,
but was parallel to Standard, which I think was really run by a
different company and was just pressed by RCA.    However, the Blue
Cards for Standard are at the Victor files.  But as I said originally,
the printing note on this booklet is confusing.

Can we agree that these albums shown did come out before April 1940??

Mike Biel  mbiel at mbiel.com

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [78-L] Victor Continental Gems
From: "Han Enderman" <jcenderman at solcon.nl>
Date: Wed, June 30, 2010 10:38 am
To: "78-L" <78-l at klickitat.78online.com>

I have label images of the first Vic V-series in the range 
V-1 (Canaries, on scroll) - V-188 (Oscar de la Rosa Orch; on double ring
Vic).
Later ring labels state "International Series".
Actually this starts with the ring the ring label type which has a
patent nr removed at 7h.

This suggests that Mike's Gems cat (V-164 last reported) was issued ca.
1-2 years before the end of the series.
Is the exact series range and the starting date known?
The "Continental Gems" were included in the Victor International Records
("V" Series) catalogue.
A slightly later issue is V-600 (in album S-22) by Lawrence Duchow and
his Red Raven Orchestra,
'Emilia Polka'.

Han Enderman
===
>>>
At the Bash I picked up an undated 20 page Victor catalog titled Victor
Continental Gems which included listings of the V series singles and
showing the S series albums. I need to find the date of this catalog,
dates of issues of the albums pictured, and confirmation that the
pictures shown are that of the album covers.

The singles are in several lists, and all of the lists are in reverse
numerical order with the highest number first.

Continental Gems 10-inch List Price 75 cents
 V-164 down to V-1
12-inch List Price $1.00
 V-515 down to V-500
International Novelties 10-inch List Price 75 cents
 V-726 down to V-703
A. Outstanding Vocal Selections
 V-514, and V-150 down to V-124
B. Outstanding Dance Selections
 V-725 to V-710, V-512 to V-500, and V-154 to V-48

Albums S-10, S-11, S-12, S13, S-14, S-17, S-18, and S-19
 (there is a cover-like illustration to each of the above)

Hebrew Religious and Tradition Music
 S-100, S-101, S-102, and S-103

The rear cover shows the dog and phonograph logo with Victor over the
horn, "For best results use Victor Needles", and at the bottom "St'd
Ph. Co. -- Form 90" This might indicate the Standard Phonograph label
which was used for ethnic recordings, but everything in this booklet
indicates Victor. At the lower right of the front cover there is a logo
consisting of an array of flags, two circles showing the globe of the
West and East hemispheres, a banner saying "Victor International
Records", and the dog and phono in an oval. Higher up, the dog and
phono in a circle is below the title, and the rest of the cover is a
line drawing of a VERY attractive lady in a VERY tightfitting drum
majorette uniform with high heeled boots. (This might spark to memory
that you also might have a copy of this catalog!) 

When was this printed, or when was V-164, V-515, V726, S-19, and S-103
issued (these are the highest numbers in the respective series. When
were all of the albums issued, and anybody have the albums to compare
with the photos in this booklet?

Thanks!

Mike Biel mbiel at mbiel.com 
---If this helps, here are chart dates (yeah, I know, from Joel Whozis)
for Will Glahe's Greatest Hits:

V-710 BEER BARREL POLKA May 6/39
V-722 W.P.A. POLKA May 20/39
V-743 WOODPECKER Jan. 6/40

This would seem to put your catalog in 1939.
dl
---> Hello Mike, This is the only album image I have in the
> range mentioned. Best, Han
> Vic Album S-18 (= V-21127-32) - Mexican issue set with
> Spanish cover title and English language discs
> Vic V-21128-B (S-18-4)

Han Enderman has come through again, with an image of Victor album S-18
that matches exactly with what is shown in the catalog. The album
covers on all of this series are in Spanish for some reason but the
catalog is specifically American, plus the discs are U.S. pressings. 
The cover of this album of music of Russia has a very colorful design
that would make Steinweiss envious -- and apparently this album came out
before Steinweiss was even hired by Columbia. Is there a release date
available for V-21127 thru 32?

Mike Biel---
This sounds a lot like a Victor "ethnic" catalog I HOPE I still own!
IIRC,
my catalog was from 1941. Standard replaced Victor's ethnic series
c. 1945 (after the ban, when Victor was once again issuing records)
This seems to be a "transitional" document...issued as "Standard"
was replacing "Victor" on RCA etnicc records?

Steven C. Barr <<<