OCTACROS

OCTACROS records were initially produced by Synchrophone Ltd. (pronounced "Oct-Ar-Cross"). The company had its roots in the film and sound synchronization industry. The original Synchrophone Company was founded in 1919 by Hans Knudsen, focusing on synchronized film and sound technologies for home use.

Transition to Octacros: The original Synchrophone Company ceased operations in 1928. In 1930, its name and trademark were acquired by Curwens, a music publisher, marking the beginning of the Octacros record label.

Debut: Octacros records made their debut around early 1934. They were single-sided 12" discs designed for synchronization with short 16mm films. Ursula Greville, a recording engineer for Synchrophone, also appeared as a singer on these records.

Copyright Regulation Changes: A significant development for Octacros records occurred due to copyright regulation changes. In March 1934, amendments to the Mechanical Copyright Act of 1911 led to disputes between cinema operators and major record companies over additional fees for using commercial gramophone records in cinemas.

Alternative for Smaller Cinemas: Smaller cinema operators sought alternatives, leading to the introduction of Synchrophone's new Octacros label in 1934. Under this arrangement, cinemas could purchase Octacros records under a 12-month contract, with exemptions from license charges for larger orders.

Different Series: Octacros records featured several series, including the 100-series (issued from March to October 1934), the 1000-series (from May 1934 to March 1937), and the 2000-series (featuring continental recordings from the French ECHO label).

Acquisition by Decca: Octacros was poised to become a major player in the record market by 1937. However, in that year, it was acquired by Decca. Decca continued to supply Octacros records under existing contracts and also pressed some "Edison Bell Winner" records using Octacros masters.

Manufacturing Location: All Octacros records were manufactured at The Mead Works in Hertford. This factory had a history of ownership by various music-related companies, including Columbia and Parlophone, before Synchrophone acquired it in 1934.

Source: M.G. Thomas