American Record Company
| Company type | Record label |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1904 |
| Founder | Ellsworth A. Hawthorne, Horace Sheble, John O. Prescott |
| Defunct | 1906 |
| Headquarters | Springfield, Massachusetts , United States |
Area served | United States, United Kingdom (exports) |
| Products | Records (single-sided and double-sided discs) |
The American Record Company functioned as a record label within the United States during the period from 1904 until 1906.
History
The enterprise was established by Ellsworth A. Hawthorne and Horace Sheble, who had previously designed accessories for Edison Records, alongside John O. Prescott. Its main office was located in Springfield, Massachusetts, while production took place in facilities situated in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Philadelphia. Recording sessions were conducted at a studio based in New York City. ARCo focused on producing single-sided, lateral-cut discs crafted from blue shellac, marketed under the name Empedite, which was promoted for its enhanced audio fidelity. Subsequent issues included both double-sided discs and the conventional black shellac records.
Logo
The labels on ARCo’s discs showcased a unique illustration of a Native American figure smoking a pipe while listening to a phonograph with a front-mounted disc player, commonly referred to as "Indian Records." This "Indian" motif appeared in several versions featuring slight design modifications. The majority of records were single-sided; when double-sided records were issued, the pairings of sides were randomly combined to fulfill minimum quantity orders. The blue shellac discs were manufactured in 7-inch, 10-inch, and 10.75-inch sizes—the largest size reflecting an association with Odeon Records. Some pressings intended for export to the United Kingdom carried the "American Odeon Record" branding. The numbering system for records began at 030000, with documented numbers extending up to 031435.
Legacy
In contrast to most American disc manufacturers of the early twentieth century—with the exception of Victor and Columbia—ARCo produced their own recordings despite patent constraints. Their significant historical contribution lies in issuing the earliest extant Hawaiian music records, performed by the Royal Hawaiian Troubadours led by July Paka. Instrumental numbers were predominantly delivered by the house ensemble known as the Regimental Band of the Republic, which also provided accompaniment for vocalists. Many artists recorded for ARCo also appeared on Victor, Columbia, and cylinder company labels, often performing identical repertoire. While numerous ARCo records lack performer identification, many include precise artist credits. Collectors prize ARCo discs; although they are less frequently found than early Columbia or Victor records, they remain more commonly preserved than those from labels for which ARCo supplied masters, such as Busy Bee, Kalamazoo, and Peerless. In European markets, ARCo releases were issued under labels including Pelican, Leader, American Odeon, and Odeon.
Roster
Prominent performers associated with American Record Company include:
- Henry Burr
- Arthur Collins (singer)
- Collins and Harlan
- Billy Golden
- Byron G. Harlan
- Billy Heins
- Anna Held
- Invincible Quartette
- Ada Jones
- Giuseppe Li Puma
- Charles P. Lowe
- Billy Murray (singer)
- J.W. Myers
- Vess L. Ossman
- Steve Porter (singer)
- Dan W. Quinn
- Regimental Band of the Republic
- Royal Hawaiian Troubadours
- Len Spencer
- Frank C. Stanley
- Harry Tally
- George P. Watson
Print references
- American Record Label Book, Brian Rust, Da Capo, 1984.