1901 – 1929
Victor
The house that made the record industry an industry
Victor Talking Machine Company · Camden, New Jersey
The house
Victor was incorporated in 1901 by Eldridge R. Johnson, the machinist who had solved the problem that held the flat disc back: a spring motor that turned at a steady speed. Johnson's company took over Emile Berliner's American disc patents and built the plant at Camden that would dominate American recording for a quarter of a century.
The dog listening to the horn — Nipper, from Francis Barraud's painting — arrived with the Berliner interests and became the most recognisable trademark in sound. Victor split its catalogue in two: the black label for popular songs, band numbers, comic monologues and dance music, and the Red Seal series for opera and concert artists at several times the price.
Victor recorded acoustically into a horn until 1925, when it licensed the Western Electric electrical system and the sound of records changed permanently. In 1929 the Radio Corporation of America bought the company, and the labels from then on read RCA Victor.
What it sounds like
Acoustic Victors are close, dry and centred — the band pushed into a single horn, with the bass drum usually inaudible because it moved too much air to cut. From 1925 the room opens up and cymbals and string bass appear for the first time.
On the shelf
Pulling sleeves…