Eldridge R. Johnson

Eldridge Johnson supplied spring phonograph motors to Emile Berliner beginning in 1896. He also developed a method of recording and plating wax disc masters, a major improvement over Berliner's acid-etched zinc mastering method. However, an injunction was granted in 1900 that prevented Berliner from marketing his Gramophone and all Gramophone products in the US. Since Johnson had no customer for his motors, he formed his own company in 1900, the Consolidated Talking Machine Company, to serve as a retail outlet for his wares. This company produced the Improved Gram-O-Phone Record, the first brand to carry a paper label. However, Johnson was sued in late 1900 for infringing on the Berliner injunction. Consequently, he was prevented from using the term "Gram-O-Phone". Thereafter, Johnson moved operations from Philadelphia, PA to Camden, NJ and marketed his products simply as "Improved Records" for a few months. During the first months of 1901, Johnson marketed 7" discs (first as "Improved Records" and then as "Victor Records") and 10" discs (first as "Victor Ten Inch Records" and then as "Victor Monarch Records"). On October 3, 1901, Johnson reorganized his business as the Victor Talking Machine Co..