Oxford Records
| Company type | Record label |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music industry |
| Founded | 1906 |
| Defunct | 1916 |
| Fate | Discontinued and replaced by Silvertone brand |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Cylinder and disc records |
Oxford Records operated as a record label in the United States roughly between 1906 and 1916. This label was issued for Sears through collaborations with several firms, such as Columbia and the Albany Indestructible Cylinders for cylinder records, while disc records were supplied by Leeds & Catlin, Zon-O-Phone, and Columbia. Sears itself did not engage in any direct recording activities. All discs produced under this label were single-sided.
History
Sears introduced the Oxford brand of discs in 1906 as a successor to the earlier Harvard series. The initial releases, identified within the 11000 and 16000 number ranges, were manufactured by Leeds & Catlin. The 1908 Sears catalog presented 7-inch discs priced at 21 cents, produced by Columbia and cataloged in the 7000 series. In 1909, 10-inch discs from Zonophone were added to the lineup, retailing at 30 cents. By late 1911, production shifted back to Columbia, whose pressings now represent the most frequently encountered Oxford records. The Oxford label was gradually discontinued in 1916, supplanted by the introduction of the Silvertone brand; however, shipments of Oxford records persisted until late 1917.
The recordings issued on Oxford could span from as early as 1901 up until 1916. Take numbers are especially useful when dating Columbia-produced pressings. For instance, Cal Stewart’s "I'm Old But I'm Awfully Tough" (Oxford 22) initially appeared on Columbia in 1901 but likely was recorded at a later date based on its take number.
Repertoire
The Oxford disc catalog mirrored the repertoire of its manufacturing companies, focusing mainly on popular titles with enduring sales appeal. Some selections originated from Columbia's ethnic matrix series. Early releases credited performers generically (such as "band" or "banjo solo"), representing studio groups utilized by multiple record companies; these ensembles included prominent artists like Vess Ossman and Arthur Collins. Later Columbia pressings often identified artists who were not bound by exclusive contracts.
Notable artists appearing on Oxford
- Irving Berlin
- Henry Burr
- Arthur Collins
- Collins & Harlan
- Edward M. Favor
- George J. Gaskin
- Byron G. Harlan
- Ada Jones
- Bohumir Kryl
- Harry Macdonough
- Billy Murray
- Vess Ossman
- Charles A. Prince
- Peerless Quartet
- Steve Porter
- Len Spencer
- Frank C. Stanley
- Cal Stewart
- Walter Van Brunt
- Bert Williams