– Organ Grinder’s Serenade

Images and info have been added for two (of probably four) parts of “Organ Grinder’s Serenade” – 10 inch releases featuring street-organ “The Arab” (draaiorgel “de Arabier”).

Click on the images below to see more.


– Philips P 13022 R

Added today: info and scans about Philips P 13022 R by the Kilima Hawaiians; a second issue of a 10 inch album which was released before with the same catalog number but it had a different cover.


– Two Mozart issues

I’ve added information and scans for the following Mozart 10 inch albums:

  • S 05904 R – Die Salzburger Mozartplatte, Bernhard Paumgartner
  • A 00758 R – W.A. Mozart by Hans Henkelmans

#05904 is mentioned in the “Mozart Jubilee Editon” booklet (see this post), but the album itself had no references to this Mozart series. #00758 shows the Mozart logo and more information about this series, but it’s not mentioned in the before-mentioned booklet, probably because it’s a later release. Check the issues (see links above) for more information.

– Matrix codes

The Londonjazzcollector website (with thanks to the 7tt77 website) lists matrix codes which identify the ‘lacquer cut machine number’ – it indicates what country the lacquer was cut in. It doesn’t add much to the information given on this website, but here’s a listing of these matrix codes:

  • Austria – 720
  • Australia – 150
  • Belgium – 170
  • Brazil – 200
  • Canada – 230
  • Denmark – 300
  • Far East – 022
  • France – 380
  • Germany – 320
  • Great Britain – 420
  • Hungary – 450
  • Italy – 520
  • Luxembourg – 630
  • Norway – 710
  • Netherlands – 670
  • Portugal – 790
  • South Africa – 960
  • Spain – 850
  • Sweden – 970
  • Switzerland – 980
  • Rest of the World – 000

The listing may be incomplete and may also not be completely representative for the 1950’s and early 1960’s – the Minigroove years. I noticed that on many early pressings, this code is not present at all. It was probably introduced around 1955.

From a short inspection, if the code is present, almost all Philips Minigroove albums that I have, show the 670 number. It’s also present on the few albums I have from more exotic locations, like in Africa or South America. UK pressings usually show the code 420, Italian pressings show the code 520 (but I also have an Italian album with the UK code), but I didn’t find 320, for German lacquers. I guess the vast majority of lacquers were made in the Netherlands and then shipped to foreign countries, where the stampers were made and the records were pressed.

– Philips A 00991 R

A 10 inch album which was beautifully packaged in a solid gatefold cover with photographs and information, released in 1957. Scans and info have been added to the website today.


Click on the image to see full sized images and more information.