Label # -vs- MX #

I've decided I real should make a new post rather than invade "Can any one tell me if any of these 78 Records are worth any..." by tinapetre.

Having reviewed http://www.78discography.com/ (thanks Joe) I'm finding that the Label # on many of the Victor records that I have is also the same as the MX # embossed on the record, i.e.
Victor - Funiculi Funicula - Label #16899-A / Embossed # 16899A
Victor - Stars and Stripes Forever MArch - Label # 18092-A / Embossed # 18092-A
etc., etc.
although the Embossed #'s are preceded by a small # and small letter...

Is this - "just the way it was done" for those particular records; or, have I stumbled on a quirk of fate . . . ???

Also, would it be worth the time to list the records I have acquired somewhere here on this site?

Those would be the catalog numbers. In some cases, those were etched on the records, in addition to being printed on the labels. After about mid-1906, for whatever reason, Victor positioned the matrix numbers under the labels, so they were not visible -- SEE: http://gasdisc.oakapplepress.com/matrix ... c526327171

According to the discographical site information, the matrix numbers for Victor - Funiculi Funicula - Label #16899-A is 10105=1 (while for side "B" -- 16899-B, it is 10106)

By the way, for Victor records, exclusively, there's another useful online database --the Encyclopedic Discography of Victor Recordings -- http://victor.library.ucsb.edu/ (You can use the search function at the top to find information about specific records by catalog number, title, etc. -- http://victor.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/object/search )

HTH,
Joe

One thing to note with Victor is that they had a strange practice.

Normally, the record production process is as follows:
1. Cut the lacquer master
2. Spray the lacquer master with a conductive spray.
3. Electroplate the lacquer master to make the metal master. This can be done only once.
4. Electroplate the metal master to make the metal mother. This can be repeated as many times as needed.
5. Electroplate the metal mother to make the metal stamper. This can be repeated as many times as needed.
6. Use the stamper to make up to 2000 records (78 rpm) before it wears out. For LPs the number was 1000 records per stamper.

If Victor thought a recording would sell fewer than 2000 copies, they did this:
1. Cut the lacquer master
2. Spray the lacquer master with a conductive spray.
3. Electroplate the lacquer master to make the metal stamper. This can be done only once.
4. Use the stamper to make up to 2000 records (78 rpm).

If the record then sold all 2000 copies and more were wanted, they had to call up the performers and record the record again. This new recording was a different performance, and got a different matrix number. This is one reason they hid the matrix number under the label. The prefix on the catalog number often indicated the different version.

Note that the beginning letters of the catalog numbers of Victor albums meant something else:

A - Automatic - These were very early automatic sequenced albums for the first two Victor changers.

AM - Automatic Multiple - The records are recorded in slide automatic order, for use on throwoff changers.

D - Discrete - No order of play was intended. This was used for collections of singles, multi-artist albums, and special purpose records (square dance, hymns, wedding music, etc) where songs were intended to be independently selected for play.

DM - Drop Multiple - The records are recorded in drop automatic order, for use on drop changers.

M - Manual - The records are recorded in manual sequence, to be played manually, or on a turnover changer.

MM - A variant of M.

A suffix indicated the side number of the disc within the album.