Record Labels - Victor Records

Hover over each image for information about each individual label.

(RCA) Victor Records

The Victor label was introduced around 1900 by the Victor Talking Machine Co. of Camden, NJ, founded by Eldridge L. Johnson, it remained one of the most popular labels all throughout its run. In 1929, the Victor Talking Machine Co. merged with the Radio Corporation of America to form the RCA-Victor Co., which continued to produce records under the Victor label until 1946, when the name was changed to RCA Victor.

Victor's 'Monarch' label, the early name they gave their 10 inch line of records, was one of their earliest styles. This is one of the first labels to feature the famous 'Nipper' logo. This example dates to 1902.

The 'patents' label followed the same style as previous Victor labels, but featured a block of patent information at the bottom of the label. It was used in several variations from 1909 until 1913. This example dates to 1911, with an unfortunate '1' marring the label.

The 'batwing' label was used from 1914 until shortly after the advent of electrical recording in 1926. This example dates to 1925.

The 'scroll' label was introduced in 1926, this earlier example features the phrase 'Orthophonic Recording' to the left of the spindle hole. At the bottom of the label, the manufacturer is listed as 'Victor Talking Machine Co.' This example dates to 1927.

Though it is in the same style as the previous label, this example produced at the time of the RCA Victor merger says 'Victor Talking Machine Division, Radio-Victor Corporation of America'. An oft overlooked feature, the small 'O' over the Nipper logo indicates that this was pressed in Oakland, California. This example dates to 1930.

A mid-run scroll label with 'Orthophonic Recording' moved to above the Nipper logo, the manufacturer was changed to RCA Victor Company, Inc. in 1930. This example dates to 1930.

A later issue scroll label with the words 'Orthophonic Recording' and 'VE' removed. The text at the bottom was changed to 'RCA Manufacturing Co. in 1935. The printing quality also seems to have declined at this change. This style was used until the retirement of the scroll label in 1937. This example dates to 1935.

The 'circle' label was used from 1937 until the 1946 change to RCA Victor. Examples made after 1943 will say 'Radio Corporation of America' across the bottom rather than 'RCA Manufacturing Co.' This example dates to 1942.

In 1946, the name of the label was changed to RCA Victor, the RCA 'circle' style of label was used from 1946 until 1953. This example dates to 1947.

One of RCA Victor's later 'New Orthophonic' records with a color logo, the last style used on 78RPMs. This example dates to 1955.

Victrola/Red Seal Records

Beginning in 1902, Victor's upscale Red Seal label issued classical, operatic, traditional, and other music that did not fit into Victor's popular series.

Early Red Seal releases used the 'Victrola' title rather than the typical 'Victor' marquee. This example dates to 1911.

A Red Seal 'Victrola' release with the scroll label, used in the same period as the regular scroll label. This example dates to around 1926.

A Red Seal release in the 'circle' style. This example dates to 1942.

Special/Other RCA Victor Labels

A special white label for Rudy Vallée's 1934 'laughing version' of the Drunkard Song. The label says, 'Dear Rudy: What do you say we let the public have this one? The 'slip-up' makes the record much funnier. E.Wallerstein - OK, R.Vallée

Victor's 'Swing Classic' variant was produced beginning in at least 1937, and continued to be produced well into the late 1940s or early 1950s. This example dates to 1937.

Victor's later Swing Classic label in the circle style. This example was issued in the early 1940s.

A 'Hot Jazz Classic' issue dating to the late 1940s.

A special RCA Victor release for 'Coin Operators' (jukeboxes), released in 1945.

A special purpose (DJ?) label pressed in very lightweight vinyl, with ASCAP sticker. This dates to 1951.

A custom pressing by RCA Victor for a three disc set from Purdue University. Made around 1950 and pressed in heavy vinyl.

A postwar Japanese release of an American recording. This example dates to 1948.

Bluebird

Bluebird was a budget label originally founded by RCA Victor in 1932 producing 8-inch discs alongside an equivalent label called Electradisk (see below), which were soon followed by an early form of 10-inch Bluebird featuring a black on dark blue label. After the early attempts, Victor introduced the "real" Bluebird label in 1933, which became a huge success and released hundreds of dance, jazz, country and later swing records until RCA Victor retired the label. Bluebird stopped recording in 1942, but they continued to issue records for some time after that. The Bluebird name was later revived as a children's label in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

An example of the more scarce 'Staff' style label used from about 1937, coinciding with Victor's change from the 'scroll' to the 'circle' label, though it was soon replaced by the most common 'Nipper' label around 1938 to 1939. This example date to 1938.

The most common Bluebird label, featuring Victor's 'Nipper' logo. Used from 1938 or 1939 until Bluebird's demise in 1942. This example dates to 1939.

Other Labels Produced by RCA Victor

The extremely uncommon Electradisk was an early equivalent to the Bluebird label, produced originally as 8-inch discs, and later as standard 10-inch discs for a short time from 1932 to early 1934 alongside a very early type of Bluebird. They were a client label for Woolworths. This issue dates to 1932.

Montgomery Ward records were produced by several companies, this one was made by Victor and also appears on Bluebird. This example dates to 1936.

Timely Tunes was Victor's first short-lived budget label for a period of three months in 1931 making them exceedingly rare.

A slight variation on the previous label, with 'Electric Process Phonograph Record' across the label rather than 'Electrical Recording.'

RCA Victor Picture Discs

In the early 1930s, Victor produced a number of picture discs, most likely as a gimmick to help combat the sales slump brought on by the Great Depression.

The first side of Victor's 'A Night at the Biltmore with Paul Whiteman' picture disc.

The second side of Victor's 'A Night at the Biltmore with Paul Whiteman' picture disc.

Sleeves

A Victor sleeve from the Orthophonic era (1925-1929) advertising marching bands.

One of several variations of a standard sleeve for Orthophonic (1925-1929) records. Featuring an image of the mighty Victor Credenza.

A Victor sleeve from around late 1929 or 1930 advertising the Electrola.

An early Bluebird sleeve dating from about 1933 to 1935, with the slogan 'Harbinger of Broadway's Latest Hits'.

All images on this page created by R. Connor Montgomery, please do not reproduce without permission.