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Marspen

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These 5½" and 6" discs were sold by branches of Marks & Spencer (hence the name) in the mid-1920s.
The pressings were done variously by Edison Bell (catalogue 600 upwards) and Crystalate (catalogue 250 upwards) using masters from their equivalent labels (Bell and Mimosa), though some of the Crystalate-produced ones have a special matrix series starting MS-01 which is thought to be specially for Marspen (though some at least can be found on Mimosa issues). 
The records would have been sold for 6d each.

 

This is a first attempt at a listing. Please e-mail me if you can help me fill in the gaps in any of these series.

The initial listing comes from Arthur Badrock's research and from my own collection.
Thank you to the following who have provided more information: Bruce Bastin, Laura Buckley, Greg Butler, Robin Bratchley, John Culley, Bill Dean-Myatt, Graham Farnell, Robert Girling, Barbara Hind, Charles Hippisley-Cox, Jolyon Hudson (for dates in wax on some issues), Ken Jobling, Steve Paget, Richard Prout, Roger Scott, Peter Winterborn.

Page last updated on: April 07, 2024

Firstly the 200-series. These are 6" discs manufactured by Crystalate. Confirmation of the first one would be useful, as I think the numbering starts at 250; I think this should be 281.

Cat No Master Title Labelled Artists Recording Date
231 ? E-131
MS-33
Hearts Of Oak
To-Night You Belong To Me
Dan Fitzroy (vocal, with piano accmp (= Maurice Elwin)
Joseph Crane (= Maurice Elwin)
Dec 22, 1925
June 15, 1927
         
250 E-134
MS-1
Union Jack Medley
The More We Are Together
Marspen Syncopators (= Stan Greening's Dance Orch.)
Gene Kit's Dance Orchestra (= Stan Greening's Dance Orch.)
Jan. 1, 1926
Jan 20, 1927
251 E-328
MS-2
The Merry Wives Of Windsor (Pt 1)
In A Little Garden
Marspen Military Band (= St Hilda Colliery Band)
Gene Kit's Dance Orchestra (= Stan Greening's Dance Orch.)
Dec 10, 1926
Jan 20, 1927
252 E-304
MS-3
Scotch Reels
My Cutie's Due At Two-To-Two Today
Robert Lloyd (accordion) (= Dan Wyper)
Gene Kit's Dance Orchestra (= Stan Greening's Dance Orch.)
Oct 11, 1926
Jan 10, 1927
253 E-279
MS-7
Teddy O'Neale
Pal O' My Yesterday
Dan Fitzroy (= Ramon Newton)
Richard Deane (= Dick Henderson)
Aug 11, 1926
Jan 27, 1927
254 W-437
MS-8
Mike In A FIt (actually "Felix March")
I've Never Seen A Straight Banana
Nat Tyler (bells) (= Billy Whitlock)
Richard Deane (= Dick Henderson)
Mar 12, 1924
Jan 27, 1927
255 MS-4 That Night In Araby The Melody Makers (= Stan Greening's Dance Orch.) Jan 10, 1927
256 E-299
MS-5
Tally-Ho !
When The Red Red Robin...
The Marspen Syncopators (= Stan Greening's Dance Orch.)
The Melody Makers (= Stan Greening's Dance Orch.)
Sep 28, 1926
Jan 10, 1927
257 E-135
MS-6
Nursery Rhymes Medley
Alice's 'Ouse
The Marspen Syncopators (= Stan Greening's Dance Orch.)
The Melody Makers (= Stan Greening's Dance Orch.)
Jan 1, 1926
Jan 20, 1927
258 E-277
MS-9
In My Wild Mountain Valley
Call On Mammy
Dan Fitzroy (= Ramon Newton)
Richard Deane (= Dick Henderson)
Aug 11, 1926
Jan 27, 1927
259 E-342
MS-10
Maid Of Athens
Memories Of You
Dan Fitzroy (vocal) (= unidentified)
Richard Deane (= Dick Henderson)
Jan 7, 1927
Jan 27, 1927
260 MS-20 Song Of The Vagabonds ? (= Tom Kinniburgh) April 5, 1927
261 MS-12
W-437
Mary Lou
Mike In A Fit (actually "Felix March")
The Melody Makers (= Stan Greening's Dance Orch.)
Billy Lock (bells) (= Billy Whitlock)
Feb 21, 1927
March 12, 1924
262 E-208
MS-13
Raymond, Overture
Bye Bye Blackbird
Marspen Military Band (= London Fire Brigade Band)
The Melody Makers (= Stan Greening's Dance Orch.)
March 30, 1926
Feb 21, 1927
263 E-270
MS-19
Old Airs, part 2
Black Bottom
The Melody Makers (= Stan Greening's Dance Orch.) July 22, 1926
March 7, 1927
264        
265 E-164
MS-17
Tancredi, Overture (Rossini)
How Many Times ?
Marspen Military Band (= London Fire Brigade Band)
The Melody Makers (= Stan Greening's Dance Orch.)
Feb 12, 1926
March 7, 1927
266 E-128 Come Back To Erin George Ormer (?) (vocal) (= Robert Howe) Dec. 18, 1925
267 E-171
MS-15
Waltz from "Faust" (Gounod)
High-High-High Up In The Hills
Marspen Military Band (= London Fire Brigade Band)
The Melody Makers (= Stan Greening's Dance Orch.)
Feb 19, 1926
March 7, 1927
268 E-170
MS-14
The Toreadors' March (Bizet)
Shepherd Of The Hills
Marspen Military Band (= London Fire Brigade Band)
The Melody Makers (= Stan Greening's Dance Orch.)
Feb 19, 1926
March 7, 1927
269        
270 E-300
MS-21
Hilarity
Song Of The Vagabonds
The Melody Makers (= Stan Greening's Dance Orch.)
Gene Kit's Dance Orchestra (= Buddy Rose's Dance Orch)
Sept 28, 1926
April 8, 1927
271 E-141
MS-30
Melody In 'F'
Hello, Bluebird
Violin solo (= "Roger Jolly")
The Melody Makers (= Buddy Rose's Dance Orch)
Jan. 15, 1926
June 3, 1927 ??
272        
273        
274        
275 E-166 Morning Noon And Night, part 1 (Suppe) Marspen Military Band (= London Fire Brigade Band) Feb 12, 1926
276 E-150
MS-25
Ceylon Memories
I'm Telling The Birds, Telling The Bees
Arthur Coles (banjo) (= Senor Spa)
The Melody Makers (= Buddy Rose's Dance Orch)
Jan 20, 1926
June 3, 1927
277 E-149
MS-24
Rose Gavotte
Blue Skies
Arthur Coles (banjo) (= Senor Spa)
The Melody Makers (= Buddy Rose's Dance Orch)
Jan 20, 1926
June 3, 1927
278 E-143
MS-23
Light Of Foot, march
Ain't She Sweet?
Marspen Military Band (= London Fire Brigade Band)
Gene Kit's Dance Orchestra (= Buddy Rose's Dance Orch)
Jan 18, 1926
June 3, 1927
279 E-146
MS-22
William Tell Overture: Finale (Rossini)
Honolulu Song Bird
Marspen Military Band (= London Fire Brigade Band)
Gene Kit's Dance Orchestra (= Buddy Rose's Dance Orch)
Jan 18, 1926
June 3, 1927
280 E-458
MS-31
The Flowers O' The Forest
Roses For Remembrance
Tom Bingley (= Tom Kinniburgh)
Richard Deane (= Maurice Elwin)
June 14, 1927
June 15, 1927
281        
282        
283        
284        
285        
286        
287        
288        
289        
290        
291        
292 E-154
E-551
Come Sit By My Side, Little Darling
Dreamy Devon
Joe Crane (= S. Chester)
Richard Deane (= Ramon Newton)
Oct 14, 1927
293        
294        
295        
         


Next, the 600-series. These are  5½" discs manufactured by J.E. Hough Ltd (Edison Bell).

Cat No Master Title Labelled Artists
601 309
316
Why Did I Kiss That Girl?
Home, Sweet Home
Vocal
Orchestral (= Royal Orchestra)
602 308
317
Riviera Rose
John Peel (sic)
Vocal
Orchestral
603 304
318
A Smile Will Go A Long Long Way
Bohemian Girl
Song
Orchestral (= Royal Orchestra)
604 307
319
Turned Up
Les Huguenots
Vocal
Orchestral (= Royal Orchestra)
605 311
320
It Ain't Gonna Rain No Mo'
La Reine De Saba
Vocal
Orchestral (= Royal Orchestra)
606 306
321
Pasadena
Swanee River
Vocal (with orch accmp)
Orchestral
607 312
322
Last Night On The Back Porch
Here's A Health Unto His Majesty
Song (= Stanley Kirkby ?)
Orchestral (= Royal Orchestra)
608 315
323
Oh Gee! Oh Gosh! Oh Golly I'm In Love
Thousand And One Nights (waltz)
vocal
The Marspen Band (orchestral)
609 314
324
When It's Night-Time In Italy
Poet And Peasant
Vocal
Orchestral (= Royal Orchestra)
610 313
325
Horsey, Keep Your Tail Up
Light Cavalry Overture
Vocal
Orchestral (= Royal Orchestra)
611 310
326
Maggie! Yes, Ma
Faust Waltz
Duet
Orchestral (= Royal Orchestra)
612 305
327
Felix Kept On Walking
Soldiers' Chorus ("Faust")
Vocal
Orchestral (= Royal Orchestra)
613 332
335
When Will The Sun Shine For Me?
Drink To Me Only
Vocal
Cornet solo (= Ken Jones)
614 330
336
Do Shrimps Make Good Mothers?
Drinking
Vocal
Trombone solo (= James Douglas)
615 333
337
Riley's Cowshed
Mu Pretty Jane
Vocal
Cornet solo
616 331
338
You're In Kentucky, Sure As You're Born
Rule Britannia
Vocal
Orchestral
617 238
328
The Laughing Jazz Drummer
Parade Of The Tin Soldiers
Song (= Charles Penrose)
Orchestral
618 329
341
I Was A Fool
The Arrow And The Song
Vocal
Orchestral (= Royal Orchestra)
619 334
339
Gigolette
Sir Roger De Coverley
Vocal
Orchestral (= Royal Orchestra)
620 289
345
Santiago
Sahara
Waltz
Fox Trot
621 126
359
Silver Threads Among The Gold
Sahara
Song (= Walter Linton)
Song
622 291
356
Washington Post March
Driftwood
Band (= London Military Band)
Fox Trot (= Velmar Dance Orchestra)
623 210
352
Narcissus
Driftwood
Fairy Bells (= Bernard Santley)
Song   (date in wax 16-12-25)
624 208
342
Stephanie Gavotte
In A Monastery Garden
Fairy Bells (= Bernard Santley)
Orchestral (= Royal Orchestra)
625 218
343
Over The Waves
Ogo Pogo
Concertina (with piano)
Orchestral or fox trot
626 139
353
Ten Little Nigger Boys
From One Till Two
Nursery Rhyme (= Ernest Wellbeloved)
Song
627 140
347
Old Mother Hubbard
Chili Bom Bom
Nursery Rhyme
Fox trot
628 288
357
Amoretten Tanze
What'll I Do?
Band (= London Military Band)
Waltz (= Velmar Dance Orchestra)
629 219
358
Rubinstein's Melody In F
What'll I Do ?
Concertina (= Ernest Rutterford)
Song
630 290
363
Coon Band Contest
Go 'Long Mule
Band (= London Military Band)
Fox Trot (Edison Bell Dance Orch, with vocal duet)
631 285
346
Alice Where Art Thou?
Why Did You Call Me, Wonderful One?
Band (= London Military Band)
Orchestral (= Royal Orchestra)
632 284
344
Rastus On Parade
Secrets (waltz)
Military Band (= London Military Band)
Orchestral (= Royal Orchestra)
633 287
354
Anvil Chorus
Has Anyone Seen My Pom?
Band (= London Military Band)
Song
634 217
355
Donau Wellen
Dream Daddy
Concertina (= Ernest Rutterford)
Song
635 220
361
Faust Waltz
All Alone
Concertina (= Ernest Rutterford)
Song
636 115
360
Irish Jigs, part 1
California
Band (= H.M. Irish Guards Band)
Song
637 116
362
Irish Jigs, No. 2
Beautiful Bird, Sing On
Band (= H.M. Irish Guards Band)
Song
638 367
376
In Sunny Spain
Show Me The Way To Go Home
Xylophone solo (= Billy Whitlock & orch.)
Orchestral with vocal chorus (= Edison Bell D.O.)
639 372
374
Welcome Little Stranger
Tea For Two
Laughing Song (= Billy Whitlock)
Orchestral (= Royal Orchestra)
640 368
375
Cuddlesome
I Want To Be Happy
Xylophone solo (= Billy Whitlock's Combination)
Orchestral (= Royal Orchestra)
641 388
390
Tears And Smiles
Simon The Cellarer
Song
Orchestral (= Royal Orchestra)
642 382
389
Will Ye No Come Back Again ?
Mother Dear
Song
643 381
387
Scottish Emigrant's Farewell
After The Storm
Song
644 370
386
Think Of Me
Tea For Two
Xylophone (= Billy Whitlock's Combination)
Song
645 369
385
On A Moonlight Night (waltz)
Show Me The Way To Go Home
Xylophone solo (= Billy Whitlock's Combination)
Song (= Tom Barratt ?)
646 371
384
The Twins
Shanghai
Laughing Song (= Billy Whitlock)
Song
647 383
373
I Want To Be Happy
Laughing Nigger
Song
Song (= Billy Whitlock)
648 403
411
Hot Stuff
Sally's Come Back
Bells & Orchestra (= Billy Whitlock's Combination)
Song
649 404
412
Kanu Stanit, Jig
Toy Drum Major
Bells, with Orch. (= Billy Whitlock's Combination)
Song
650 405
413
Spoof March
Seminola
Bells, with Orch. (= Billy Whitlock's Combination)
Song
651 406
414
The Wenbley Wobble
Why Don't My Dreams Come True?
Xylophone (= Billy Whitlock's Combination)
Song
652 407
415
Step It Out
I'm Happy When I'm All Alone
Xylophone (= Billy Whitlock's Combination)
Song
653 408
416
On The Alert
I'll Take Her Back (If She Wants To Come Back)
Xylophone (= Billy Whitlock)
Song
654 340
417
Come Where My Love Lies Dreaming
Oh, Darling Do Say "Yes"
Orchestral (= Royal Orchestra)
Duet
655 394
396
How Do You Do?
Father And Son
Song
Comic Song (= Billy Whitlock)
656 283
348
Pal Of My Dreams
Beautiful Kaala
Song
Hawaiian guitars
657      
658 249
250
Cock-A-Doodle-Doo
Dickery Dickery Dock
recitation (= Stanley Kirkby?)
659 247
248
Girls And Boys Come Out To Play
Johnny Shall Have A New Bonnet, &c
Nursery Rhyme (= Stanley Kirkby)
660      
661      
662      
663 418
430
I've Got A Real Daddy Now
Maritana, selection part 1
Duet (= Tom Barratt & Will Thompson)
Orchestra (= Crown Orchestra)
664 420
428
Maritana, selection part 2
Everybody Loves My Baby
Orchestra (= Crown Orchestra)
Duet
665 429
431
Hay, Hay, Farmer Gray
Maritana, selection part 3
Duet
Orchestra (= Crown Orchestra)
666 419
421
Save Your Sorrow
Maritana, selection part 4 (Wallace)
Duet
Orchestra
667 426
442
Evening Echoes
Moonlight And Roses
Bells (= Billy Whitlock)
Duet
668 424
444
Agility
Ukulele Lady
Xylophone (= Billy Whitlock)
Duet
669 432
443
Drink To Me Only
When You And I Were Seventeen
Song
Song
670 440
446
Jolly Old Pals
Ukulele Lady
Xylophone (= Billy Whitlock's Combination)
Orchestra (= Edison Bell Dance Orch.)
671 435
445
At Dusk
Paddlin' Madelin' Home
Hawaiian Guitar (= Segis Luvaun)
Orchestral (= Edison Bell Dance Orch.)  
672 436
449
My Eve (waltz)
Rose Marie
Hawaiian Guitar (= Segis Luvaun)
Orchestral (= Novelty Orchestra)   (date in wax 23-3-26)
673 451
457
Sunny Havana
Rubenstein's Melody In F
Song
Violin Solo (= C. Essen)
674 454
464
If You Knew Susie
The Last Rose Of Summer
Song (= Stanley Kirkby)
'Cello Solo (= Anthony Pini)
675 453
458
I'm An Airman
Raff's Cavatina
Song       (date in wax 11-5-26)
Violin Solo (= C. Essen)
676 452
459
Yes, Sir, That's My Baby
Spring Song
Song
Violin Solo (= C. Essen)
677 455
463
Araby
Cradle Song
Song
'Cello Solo (= Anthony Pini)
678      
679 439 Prancing Hawaiian Guitar (= Segis Luvaun)
680      
681 460
470
Handel's Largo
Honey I'm In Love With You
Violin Solo (= C. Essen)
Song
682 437
473
London (fox trot)
Oh, Boy What A Girl
Hawaiian Guitar (= Segis Luvaun)
Duet
683      
684      
685      
686      
687      
688      
689 235
236
Laughing P.C. Brown
Silly Old Billy
Song (probably Billy Whitlock)
690 434
483
Sunny Hawaii
Valencia
Hawaiian Guitar (= Segis Luvaun)
Orchestra
691 439
487
Moana Waltz
Valencia
Hawaiian Guitar (= Segis Luvaun)
Vocal
692      
693      
694      
695 474
484
Always (I'll Be Loving You)
Recollections Of Scotland, part 1
Song
Concertina
696 485
491
Recollections Of Scotland, part 2
Tin Can Fusiliers
concertina
Orchestra (= Edison Bell Dance Orch.)
697 475
490
She May Be Ugly
Picador
Comic Song (= Billy Whitlock)
Orchestral (= Edison Bell Dance Orch.)
    The size changes to 6" at this point  
698 497
499
Barcelona
Magic Moments
Orchestral
699 498
432
My Irish Home, Sweet Home
Celestina
Song
Celesta Solo
700 501
542
My Irish Home, Sweet Home (waltz)
Blue Danube Waltz
Orchestra
Orchestral
701 500
533
Valentine (one step)
The Elves Picnic
Orchestral
Celesta Solo
702 502
537
Bobadilla
Before Love Came
Orchestral
Song
703 504
535
The Two Of Us
Fascinating Mary
Orchestral
Song
704 534
539
Waiting For You, Sweetheart
Then I'll Be Happy
Song
Orchestra
705 507
538
I Don't Care What You Used To Be
If I Could See You Smile
Song
Orchestral
706 536
541
Pretty Little Japanese
Susie Was A Real Wild Child
Song (= Stanley Kirkby (baritone, with orch accmp))
Orchestral, with vocal chorus
707 506
540
Far Away Days
Wanna Go Back Again Blues
Song
Orchestra, with vocal chorus
708 545
552
The Boating Song (Mendelssohn)
I'm Knee-Deep In Daisies
Elite Orchestra
Tom Downey (vocal) (= Tom Barratt ?)
709 568 You Forgot To Remember Arthur Jephson (vocal)
710 560
568
The Gout
C.U.R.R.A.N.T.S.
Jimmy Watson (song) (= Billy Whitlock)
The Viviens (vocal duet)
711 561
573
The Tree Maiden
I Never See Maggie Alone
Jimmy Watson (song) (= Billy Whitlock)
The Viviens (vocal duet)
712 562
572
Eastern Star
Oh, Charlie, Take It Away
Xylophone Solo  (= Billy Whitlock)
The Viviens (vocal duet)
713 563
570
Gollie Jig
Let Me Call You "Sweetheart"
Xylophone Solo  (= Billy Whitlock)
Waltz Song
714 559    ?
589    ?
Faust, waltz                                                            ?
I Wonder Where My Baby Is To-Night (Fox Trot) ?
Elite Orchestra                     ?                See 718 (and note) below)
Palace Dance Orchestra      ?
715 565
576
Twinkling Star
Honey Bunch (fox trot with vocal chorus)
Sam Lander (Xylophone, with orch accmp) (= Billy Whitlock)
Palace Dance Orchestra
716 566
571
Belle Gavotte
Meet Me At Twilight
Sam Lander (bells)  (= Billy Whitlock)
Randolph Sims (vocal)
717 567
574
Baby Rose
Always (I'll Be Loving You)
Sam Lander (bells)  (= Billy Whitlock)
Tom Downey (vocal)
718 559
589
Faust, waltz
I Wonder Where My Baby Is To-Night (Fox Trot)
Elite Orchestra
Palace Dance Orchestra
  Note: You will see that the details for 714 & 718, above, are the same. 714 is shown as above in Arthur Badrock's files, but I actually have a copy of 718 in my own collection here. Confirmation of what is on 714 would be very useful. Note also there are two versions of 719 reported, below.
719 544
557
Spring Song (Mendelssohn)
Lonesome And Sorry (fox trot)
Elite Orchestra
Palace Dance Orchestra
719 544
614
Spring Song (Mendelssohn)
Lonesome And Sorry (fox trot)
Elite Orchestra
Palace Dance Orchestra
720 590
600
That Certain Party (fox trot)
The Whistling Scot
Palace Dance Orchestra
James McInnes (vocal, with piano accmp)
721 591
601
Chinese Moon (fox trot)
Says I To Him, Says I
Palace Dance Orchestra
James McInnes (vocal, with piano accmp)
722 592
602
My Carmenita
Sometimes I Think I Love Maggie
Palace Dance Orchestra
James McInnes (vocal, with piano accmp)
723 593
603
Am I Wasting My Time On You?
Keep Your Eyes On Mr. McKay
Arthur Jephson (vocal)
James McInnes (vocal, with piano accmp)
724 604
605
Jack & Jill; Little Miss Muffett
Mary Mary Quite Contrary; Little Boy Blue
Nursery Rhyme
725 556
Air (Molique)
Good Night
Julian Vincent (violin)
Randall Newcombe (baritone)
726 543
594
Doctrinen (waltz)
Sometime
Elite Orchestra
Randall Newcombe (baritone)
727      
728      
729      
730      
731      
732 555
595
Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto (slow mvt)
The Road To Loch Lomond
Julian Vincent (violin)
Randall Newcombe (baritone)
733      
734      
735