Personal Record

1908 to early-1930s Columbia Records private pressing service for 78s, especially popular with school groups. Starting in 1908, Columbia began producing personal or "vanity" recordings for private groups and individuals for a fee. Between 1908 and 1915, it used the matrix numbers 14500–14999 for 10-inch recordings and 16000–16999 for 12-inch recordings. Another 10-inch block, 31000–33999, was used between ca. 1913 and 1916. In 1915, Columbia set up a separate Personal Record Department, managed by Henry D. King, to produce records by societies, fraternal orders, clubs, churches, political associations, and private individuals. The following matrix blocks were used: 60000–64999 (1915-1924) and 91000–91499 (1918-1924) for 10-inch records, 51500–51999 (1915-1934) and 91500–91999 (1918-1931) for 12-inch records. Producing a solo recording with piano accompaniment on a 10-inch master costs $50; the first 50 copies pressed from that master cost $1 each. Larger batches of 500 copies cost ca. 60 cents per copy.