Puritan Records
| Company type | Record label |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Predecessor | United Phonographs Corporation |
| Founded | 1917 |
| Founder | Frederick Dennett (via United Phonographs Corporation) |
| Defunct | 1929 |
| Fate | Ceased operations |
| Headquarters | Sheboygan / Grafton / New York City , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Parent | Wisconsin Chair Company (majority of lifespan) |
Puritan Records was a U.S.-based record label that operated between 1917 and 1929. Throughout the majority of its lifespan, Puritan was managed by the Wisconsin Chair Company, which also distributed Paramount Records. Nonetheless, Puritan's origins slightly precede Paramount, initially launching under United Phonographs Corporation.
History
Frederick Dennett, who founded the Wisconsin Chair Company, started by producing phonograph cabinets for Edison before venturing into the record industry. After divesting one of his manufacturing plants to Edison, Dennett established United Phonographs Corporation in late 1916, manufacturing phonographs at the Lake Side Craft Shops located in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. By March 1917, United Phonographs was promoting phonographs and records under the Puritan brand. The earliest vertical-cut Puritan discs are scarce and were probably procured from other vertical-cut producers since Wisconsin Chair did not possess a recording studio prior to 1919. Nonetheless, record pressing took place at Wisconsin Chair’s Grafton, Wisconsin facility starting in 1917. This pressing operation was officially organized as New York Recording Laboratories (NYRL) in June 1917.
Puritan, alongside its phonograph products and the Colonial Phonograph Company, functioned as subsidiaries under Wisconsin Chair. In 1919, Art Satherley inaugurated a recording studio for NYRL in New York City, marking Wisconsin Chair’s full-scale entry into the record market through its Paramount label. From the launch of lateral-cut records onward, Puritan’s catalogue generally mirrored Paramount’s releases, with some variations.
After Dennett passed away in 1920, those succeeding United Phonographs withdrew from the phonograph market by 1922 and transferred Puritan to Wisconsin Chair ownership. Following this transition, Puritan records were manufactured both by NYRL in Grafton and by Bridgeport Die and Machine Company (BD&M) based in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Masters produced by NYRL also appeared on various BD&M-serviced labels including Banner Records, Triangle, as well as Paramount’s affiliated labels Broadway Records and Famous.
When BD&M declared bankruptcy in 1925 and NYRL was legally dissolved on January 1, 1926, Puritan maintained operations until 1929 by utilizing masters sourced from other companies such as Regal Records (1921). The label’s output reflected the style of Paramount’s New York facility, concentrating on mainstream dance tunes and popular music. Puritan remained active for a short period after Paramount shifted its emphasis toward country music and blues recordings made around Chicago and at Gennett Records in Richmond, Indiana.
Label Design and numbering systems
During the United Phonographs period, Puritan records displayed at least three different label designs. Initial four-color vertical-cut labels featured tan and blue printing atop a light grey background with an inset illustration of a pilgrim woman listening to her phonograph; the phrase "Vertical Cut" appeared in red typeface. Upon transitioning to lateral-cut discs, the pilgrim image was retained but encircled by intricate gold and black lace patterns. This design was eventually replaced by a simpler gold-on-blue label bearing the slogan "America's Best Record," which preserved some lacework elements and resembled Paramount’s label style. Around 1925, the label color scheme changed to gold on black. Pressings by BD&M exhibited a distinctive gold-and-white-on-black label depicting the Puritan figure wearing a broad-brimmed hat.
Documentation regarding early Puritan and Paramount numbering schemes is limited. Vertical-cut Puritan discs were assigned numbers in the 2000 range. After switching to lateral-cut formats in 1919, Puritan maintained at least three simultaneous series: the 6000 series for classical music (discontinued after 1923), the 9000 series for light music, and the 11000 series for popular music. The 11000 series corresponds with Paramount’s 20000 series while the 9000 series parallels Paramount’s 33000 series. Additional Puritan series existed within blocks numbered in the 500s and 70000s. Following BD&M’s involvement, numbering became irregular with overlapping sequences across different labels. By 1923, the 11000 series stabilized until Puritan ceased production; its highest pop number was 11819 in 1929, coinciding with the conclusion of Paramount’s comparable popular music program.
Legacy
Documentation of Puritan records, similar to those of its parent firm, is relatively limited, though they are somewhat more frequently found than Paramount releases. In contrast to Paramount, Puritan did not produce country or Downhome blues genres; instead, it concentrated on popular and dance music performed by New York-based orchestras, including groups led by Ben Selvin, Joseph Samuels, Nathan Glantz, Eddie Davis (connected to Mike Markel), and Harry Yerkes. Numerous Puritan issues overlapped with more widely distributed labels such as Plaza Music’s Banner Records, as well as rarer imprints like Broadway and Triangle. Collectors appreciate Puritan primarily due to its affiliation with Paramount and certain unresolved discographical details, although it does not command the same high market prices associated with Paramount’s country and blues catalog. Select recordings by artists such as Lucille Hegamin, King Oliver, Ford Dabney, W. C. Handy, along with early works by Fletcher Henderson and Duke Ellington, attract moderate interest among enthusiasts.
Sound quality differs depending on the pressing: BD&M pressings provide superior audio fidelity but are more delicate, whereas NYRL Wisconsin pressings are sturdier yet exhibit increased surface noise owing to a higher shellac filler content.
In 1972, the Puritan name was licensed by record collector Dave Samuelson for an independent label specializing in American roots and bluegrass music. This new label adopted the original 1920s font style, label design, and logo but was unrelated to the original company. Initially based in Evanston, Illinois, the label later moved to Battle Ground, Indiana in 1975 before ceasing operations in 1981.
See also
External links
- Collection of Puritan label variations
- Puritan Records at the Internet Archive's Great 78 Project