George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center
Fenwick Library, MS2FL4400 University Dr.
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Business Number: 703-993-2220
Fax Number: 703-993-8911
speccoll@gmu.edu
URL: https://scrc.gmu.edu
Kristen Korfitzen
Administrative Information
Use Restrictions
Collection is open to research.
Access Restrictions
There are no restrictions.
Preferred Citation
Japanese Phonograph Record collection, Collection #C0141, Special Collections and Archives, George Mason University Libraries
Acquisition Information
Donor unknown.
Processing Information
Processed by Special Collections and Archives staff.
Historical Information
The records in this collection are early examples of "electrical" recordings. Prior to 1925 recordings were made acoustically with singers and musicians playing into a horn. Electrical recording introduced the microphone which could pick up a larger range of sound and tone. Record companies developed specific names for this new recording process. The Victor Talking Machine company dubbed the new electric records as Othrophonic Records; Columbia produced "viva-tonal" records. The records in this collection are labeled as such.
A product of Nipponophone, Orient was acquired by Columbia in 1925
Scope and Contents
The Japanese Phonograph Record collection contains 15, 78 rpm phonograph records produced for Japan. The collection also includes original record sleeves and printed material packaged with the record. The records in this collection were released by: Columbia, Regal, Victor, Ploydor and Orient Records. The records could have been released by the American division of these labels for export, or by there Japanese branches. The design of the labels present on the discs indicated that these records were released in the late 1920s through early 1930s. The records have been recorded with the new "electric" recording process, which was introduced to the music industry in 1925.
The song title and artist name are printed in Japanese with only the record company name printed in English. As of now the records remain unidentified.
Arrangement
Organized into five series.
Missing Title Series 1: Colmbia Series 2: Victor Series 3: Orient Series 4: Ploydor Series 5: Columbia RegalRelated Material
Special Collections and Archives also holds the Music, Theatre, and Spoken Word sound recording collection.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Music
- Music -- 20th century
- Music -- Japan
- Music -- Japan
- Sound recordings
Container List
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 1
Columbia 26507circa 1928
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 2
Columbia 26508circa 1928
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 3
Victor 50833ca. 1927-1932
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 4
Victor 50834ca. 1927-1932
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 5
Victor 50834ca. 1927-1932
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 6
Victor 50604ca. 1927-1932
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 7
Victor 50605ca. 1927-1932
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 8
Victor 50833ca. 1927-1932
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 9
Orient 60433ca. 1928
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 10
Orient 60432ca. 1928
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 11
Polydor 3832ca. 1925-1932
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 12
Polydor 3833ca. 1925-1932
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 13
Columbia Regal 65882ca. 1925-1932
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 14
Columbia Regal 65883ca. 1925-1932