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Pickofall records were first advertised in November 1912. They were sold by The Regent Fitting Company, which was owned by Roumanian emigrant Leon Leibowich, who also sold the various "Besttone" records and "Playwell Records" along with various gramophones and associated items (at various times). The company was based at 131, Wardour Street, London W, but moved in December 1912 to 120, Old Street, London W, premises previously occupied by record wholesaler's Lugton & Co.

The first Pickofall records announced were in two catalogue series; 800 for instrumental recordings and 900 for vocal. The initial 900 series batch seem to all use former Bel Canto masters with a 5000-series master number. A subsequent issue in this series uses Dacapo masters which have a master series starting at E-1. The labels show the masters to be in an E-90000 range, the numerical part of which is the Dacapo master number enclosed by the catalogue number. Or nearly, I should say. If you look at the second image, right, you will see the master number shown as E-98538. This is 988, with "53" (the actual master number) in the middle. The only problem is that the catalogue number is 987 not 988. Who said discography was straightforward?

The 800-series use masters in a 3000 series. I understand these are from the Russian-based Metropol Records (based in Aprelkova, Moscow). The company later changed its name to The Dacapo Record Company after forming an association with the German Dacapo Record Company, and this was presumably how the masters came to be in Germany.

12" Pickofall records were announced in May 1913, but none have been reported to me, though Norman Field has a test issue, with a blank Pickofall label on one side, shown on his website.

After this time, Pickofall records started to be issued without Catalogue number, but just with face numbers. These are believed to have been manufactured by the Turmalin Werke in Berlin. Two types of these have been found: ones with the 3000 numbers, previously issued in the 800 series; although this new batch had no catalogue numbers, the couplings were the same as those in the 800 series.

The others had a rather convoluted series of face numbers which started with a two-digit number, either 34, 35 or 36. This was followed by a 4-digit number in the 4000 range. This number is made up of the last 2 digits of the 5000-series master number, prefixed by a 4, then with the last number duplicated. The two-digit prefix is 34, for master numbers between 5000 and 5099, 35 for 5100 - 5199 and 36 for 5200-up. Some masters (in the 41000 series) were from Beka/Lindstrom. For these, Pickofall used a 33 prefix, and the suffix is the last three digits of the master number, with the last digit duplicated in the same way as the others. (All that must have kept the office-boy busy.) It is believed that all these had already been issued with 900-series catalogue numbers. A 38-series prefix was used for masters from other companies, such as Favorite.

All Pickofall records I've seen have the legend "PRESSED IN PRUSSIA" on the labels, but Liebowich continued to advertise this label long after the outbreak of WWI. According to reports at the time, Liebowich had huge stocks of German-made Pickofall (and other) records when war broke out. He continued to sell these, reduced in price to 1/1 and presumably with the country of manufacture scrubbed out or covered over on the record labels.

Despite Pickofall records being available from late 1912 until at least April 1916, they are very rare, and I suspect much of the information below has come from advertisements rather than viewing of the actual records, always worrying when trying to produce a label listing of any accuracy.

Thanks to Bill Dean-Myatt for providing the first label photo. The other one is from my own collection

 

 

My thanks to Frank Andrews in providing most of the information for this page.

Please e-mail
me if you can help me fill in the gaps in any of these series.
Thank you to the following for providing more information:
Norman Field, Mike Jones, Richard Prout

Page last updated on: July 08, 2024

First the 800-series which are instrumental recordings. Where these have been reported but WITHOUT catalogue numbers, I have put an asterix against the catalogue number.

Cat No Matrix Title Labelled Artists Notes
800* 3172
3174
Alexandra Ragtime Band [sic]
Detective Dance (with Bells)
Grand Metropole Band  
801 3171
 
Mysterious Rag
Honolulu Ragtime
Grand Metropole Band  
802   "Lysistrata" - Glow Worm Idyll
"The Flying Dutchman" - Sailors' Chorus
Military Band  
803   "Quand L'Amour Meurt" - Love's Last Word, waltz
Gold And Silver Waltz
Military Band  
804   Donau Wellen waltz Military Band  
805   Tortajada - valse Espagne
Valse Bleue
Military Band  
806 3188
3189
The Birds And The Brook - descriptive
The Post-Horn In The Forest (cornet solo)
Military Band  
807   Jolly Fellows, waltz
La Czarina, mazurka
Military Band  
808   Elysium, waltz
Francisco Waltz
Piano Solo  
809   King Cotton March
Liberty Bell March
Military Band  
810* 3198 ?
3199
Amina - an Egyptian serenade              [wax: 1654]
Siamese Patrol - descriptive                  [wax: 1045)
Military Band  
811* 3200
3201
El Capitan, march
The Stars And Stripes Forever, march
Military Band  
812   Entry Of The Gladiators, march
Under The Banner OF Victory, march
Military Band  
813 3204
3205
"A Midsummer Night's Dream" - Wedding March
"William Tell", overture part 3
Military Band  
814   The Whistler And His Dog
Whistling Rufus
Grand Metropole Band
Military Band
 
815
3208
Poppies - a Japanese romance
The Turkish Patrol - descriptive
Military Band
Grand Metropole Band
 
816   Brooklyn Cake Walk
the Camp Meeting - cake walk
Military Band
Grand Metropole Band
 
817* 3212
3213
"Tannhauser" - selection
"Martha" - selection
Military Band  
818 3214
 
"The Tales Of Hoffman" - barcarolle
"Die Fledermaus" - waltz
Military Band  
819 3215
 
Nights Of Gladness, waltz
"Alfred" - Rule Britannia; God Save The King
Military Band  
820 3242
3243
Down In Jungle Town
Grizzly Bear
Grand Metropole Band  
821 40439
40440
Sambo's Picnic
Coonland Memories
John Pidoux (banjo)  
822        
823        
824        
825        

Now the 900-series which are vocal recordings. Plus a solitary issue with Cat No 1000. I am showing the face numbers too, and again I will asterix the catalogue numbers to show where a record without the catalogue number has been reported.

Cat No Face No. Matrix Title Labelled Artists
900 36-4677
36-4688
5267
5268
"The Chocolate Soldier" - The Letter Song
"The Chocolate Soldier" - My Hero
Rosa Dallow (soprano)
901 36-4711
 
5271
 
Don't Do It Again, Matilda
Never Been Courting Before
Harry Champion (comedian)
George Bastow (comedian)
902 34-5833
36-4433
5083 ?
5243 ?
If I Had The World To Give You
Nobody Knows - Nobody Cares
Robert Carr (baritone)
Stanley Kirkby (baritone)
903 36-4511 ?
36-4533
5151
5253
Cheer Up, My Highland Lassie
Any Little Girl That's A Nice Little Girl
Arthur Field (comic)
904 35-4277
35-4299
5127
5139
There's No Home Like The Old Home
For Auld Lang Syne
Harry Trevor (baritone) (= Robert Carr)
905 35-4288
35-4366
5128
5136
I'm Trying So Hard To Forget You
To The End Of The World With You
Harry Trevor (baritone) (= Robert Carr)
906 35-4299
35-4377
5129
5137
Jolly Good Luck To The Girl Who Loves A Soldier
Every Little Girl Loves a Military Man
Harry Trevor (baritone) (= Robert Carr)
907 35-4211
35-4255
5121
5125
From Poverty Street To Golden Square
A Picture No Artist Can Paint
Harry Trevor (baritone) (= Robert Carr)
908 35-4533
35-4544
5153
5154
Abide With Me
The Lost Chord
Florence Venning (contralto)
909* 35-4555
35-4588
5155
5158
Daddy
Genevieve
Florence Venning (contralto)
910 35-4900
35-4911
5190
5191
The Bedouin Love Song
Thora
Thomas Howells (bass)
911* 35-4733
35-4744
5173
5174
The Trumpeter
My Old Shako
Albert Chapman (baritone)
912* 35-4711
 
5171
 
The Irish Emigrant
My Wild Irish Rose
Albert Chapman (baritone)
913 35-4899
 
5189
 
The Star Of Bethlehem
God's Garden
Thomas Jackson (tenor)
W.G. Callinan (tenor)
914 35-4999
36-4033
5199
5203
Always Jolly
Laughing All The Day
Billy Whitlock (comedian)
915 35-4988
36-4011
5198
5201
All I Said Was "Ha! Ha! Ha!"
Come Under My New Gamp
Billy Whitlock (comedian)
916     Annie Laurie
The Swanee Shore (plantation song)
The Boston Quartette
917 34-4700
34-4733
5070
5073
Massa's In De Cold, Cold Ground
Nellie Grey
The Boston Quartette
918 36-4055
36-4177
5205
5217
There Are Nice Girls Everywhere
I've Got Rings On My Fingers
Harry Bluff (comedian)
919* 34-4933
35-4766
5093
5176
There's Nobody Just Like You
"Maritana" - In Happy Moments
W.G. Callinan (tenor)
Albert Chapman (baritone)
920 34-4944
 
5094
 
"Lallah Rookh" - I'll Sing Thee Songs Of Araby
"Robin Hood" - Oh, Promise Me
Albert Chapman (baritone)
921 35-4166
35-4177
5116
5117
My Dreams
Good-Bye
Julius Malten (tenor)
922 35-4444
35-4455
5144
5145
Calligan Call Again
The Wedding Of Launchie McGraw
Dougal McNab
923 35-4400
35-4500
5140
5150
Stop Yer Tickling, Jock
Queen Amang The Heather
Dougal McNab
924* 35-4411
35-4477
5141
5147
Bonnie Leezie Lindsay
We Parted On The Shore
Dougal McNab
925 35-4677
35-4699
5167
5169
Excelsior
The Larboard Watch
Wilfred Virgo & Albert Chapman
926 35-4688
35-4700
5168
5170
The Moon Hath Raised Her Lamp Above
All's Well
Wilfred Virgo & Albert Chapman
927 36-4200
36-4233
5220
5223
"The Arcadians" - My Motter
My Wife's Cake
Harry Bluff (comic)
928 35-4755
 
5175
 
For All Eternity
Come Into The Garden Maud
Albert Chapman (baritone)
Wilfred Virgo (tenor)
929 35-4300
36-4066
5130
5206
Ship Ahoy!
I Played My Concertina
Harry Trevor (baritone) (= Robert Carr)
Harry Bluff (comic)
930 35-4233
35-4266
5123
5126
When We Went To School Together
As The Years Roll By
Harry Trevor (baritone) (= Robert Carr)
931* 35-4511
35-4599
5151
5159
Come Sing To Me
Love's Old Sweet Song
Florence Venning (contralto)
932 36-4288
 
5228
 
Fall In And Follow Me
Nellie Dean
Jack Charman (comedian)
James Hudson (baritone)
933 36-4588
 
5258
 
Come With Me Down Regent Street
Ginger, You're Barmy
Jack Charman (comedian)
Will Randall (comedian)
934 36-4277
 
5227
 
Put On Your Ta-Ta Little Girlie
Down In Jungle Town
Jack Charman (comedian)
Pete Brown (coon song) (= Will Terry)
935 35-4311
36-4444
5131
5244
Red Wing
Your Eyes Have Told Me So
Harry Trevor (baritone) (= Robert Carr)
Thomas Jackson (tenor)
936 36-4700
33-0466
5270
41046
Henry The Eighth
The Belle Of The Barber's Ball
Alf Willis (comic song)
Nancy Hastings & Pete Rastus (= Nancy & Jack Charman)
937* 35-4244
36-4499
5124
 
When The Fields Are White With Daisies
I Wonder If You Miss Me Sometimes
Harry Trevor (baritone) (= Robert Carr)
Harry Thornton (baritone)
938 35-4144
36-4666
5114
5266
I Used To Sigh For The Silvery Moon
On The Silvery Sands
Julius Malton (tenor)
Frank Miller (baritone) (= Stanley Kirkby)
939 36-4000
36-4033
5200
5203
Billy Whitlock's Aeroplane
Billy Whitlock's Wedding
Billy Whitlock (comedian)
940 36-4277
36-4288
5227
5228
Put On Your Ta-Ta Little Girlie
Fall In And Follow Me
Jack Charman
941     Eileen Alannah
True Till Death
Harry Thornton (baritone)
942 36-4477
 
5247
 
You Taught Me How To Love You
I Wonder If You Miss Me Sometimes
Phil Gordon
943 35-4244
35-4311
5124
5131
When The Fields Are White With Daisies
Red Wing
Harry Trevor (baritone) (= Robert Carr)
944 36-4355
36-4388
5235
5238
Captain Ginjah O.T.
By The Sea
Charles Denton (comic)
945 36-4566
36-4577
5256
5257
Here Comes The Chocolate Major
Take Your Girlie Where The Band Is Playing
Jack Charman
946 35-4200
35-4222
5120
5122
The Angel Of My Dreams
The Land Where The Angels Are
Harry Trevor (baritone) (= Robert Carr)
947 35-4355
35-4388
5135
5138
Two Eyes Of Brown
Pansies Mean Thoughts And Thought Mean You
Harry Trevor (baritone) (= Robert Carr)
948     Farewell To Summer
My Dreams
Wilfred Virgo (tenor)
949     The Message
The Sailor's Grave
Wilfred Virgo (tenor)
950 34-4788 ?
34-4799
5078 ?
5079
A Winter's Lullaby
Cradle Song
Florence Bruce (soprano)
951 34-4988
35-4866
5098
5186
My God And Father
The Choir Boy
Florence Bruce (soprano)
952 34-4833
 
5083
 
"Samson and Delilah" - Softly Awakes My Heart
In The Shadow Of The Pines
Florence Bruce (soprano)
953 35-4633
35-4655
5163
5165
Stoke Cracker John
A Sergeant Of The Line
Adolph Fowler (bass)
954* 35-4644
 
5164
 
Simon The Cellarer
A Chip Off The Old Block
Adolph Fowler (bass)
955 35-4966
35-4977
5196
5197
"Elijah" - Lord God Of Abraham
"Elijah" - It Is Enough
Thomas Howells (bass)
956 35-4622
35-4722
5162
5172
Three For Jack
The Corporal's Ditty
Adolph Fowler (bass)
Albert Chapman (baritone)
957* 34-4255
34-4922
5025
5092 ?
I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now?
The Girl I Left Behind (Frederick Bevan)
Jack Charman (baritone)
W. Norcross (baritone)
958 36-4566
 
5256
 
Here Comes The Chocolate Major
You Taught Me How To Love You
Jack Charman (baritone)
959
36-4600
1946-t
5260
I Must Go Home To-Night
Follow The Tramlines
Billy Williams
Robert Nelson (comic) (= Jack Charman)
960 36-4355
36-3522
5235
5252
Captain Ginjah, O.T.
Mister Pat O'Hare
Charles Denton (comic)
Arthur Fields (comic)
961 33-0466
33-0477
41046
41047
The Belle Of The Barber's Ball
Down In Jungle Town
Nancy Hastings & Pete Rastus (= Nancy & Jack Charman)
Pete Rastus (= Jack Charman)
962 35-4488
35-4499
5148
5149
I Love A Lassie
When I Get Back To Bonnie Scotland
Dougal MacNab (Scotch comedian)
963 36-4088
36-4155
5208
5215
Archibald, Certainly Not
Oh, Joe, I Want To Go To The Picture Show
Harry Bluff (comic)
964     Cover It Over Quick, Jemima
Let's Have A Basin Of Soup
Harry Champion (comedian)
965 35-4933
35-4955
5193
5195
Asleep In The Deep
When The Ebb Tides Flow
Thomas Howell (bass)
966 36-4100
36-4144
5210
5214
Tax the Bachelors
Let's All Go Down The Strand
Harry Bluff (comic)
967 34-4844
35-4033
5084
5103
Off To Philadelphia
The Whistling Bowery Boy
W. Norcross (baritone)
968     All Clear Out Of The Park
We Don't Want A Girl For Sunday
Frank Miller (comic) (= Stanley Kirkby)
969 36-4599
35-4600
5259
5260
Why Does Mrs Flanagan Want To Go To The Isle Of Man?
Follow The Tramlines
Robert Nelson (= Jack Charman)
970     Sing Me To Sleep
Sleep And Forget
Philip Ritte (tenor)
971 35-4188
 
5218
 
I Wish I Lived Next Door To You
Anywhere Is Alright When You're Doing Well
Harry Bluff (comic)
972     "The Quaker Girl" - Come To The Ball
I Wonder If You Miss Me Sometimes
Harry Thornton (baritone)
973* 36-4299
36-4455
5229
5245
My Bungalow In Bond Street
Silver Bell
Jack Charman
Philip Gordon (baritone)
974 36-4044
36-4722 ?
5204
5272
"Our Miss Gibbs" - Yip-I-Addy-I-Ay
The Natty Little Patch Behind
Harry Bluff (comedian)
Harry Champion (comedian)
975 ?
36-4588
5232
5258
There's A Little Black Cupid In the Moon
Come With Me Down Regent Street
Harry Trevor (baritone) (= Robert Carr? - May be Jack Charman in this case)
Jack Charman (baritone)
976     My Honolulu Queen
Loch Lomond
Eleanor Bruce
977   E-27
E-28
Waiting For The Robert E. Lee
Hitchy Koo
Ward & Ford (duet) (= Terry & Osborn) (same on all the duets below, possibly)
978   E-40
 
The Ragtime Goblin Man
Dicky Bird
Ward & Ford (duet)
979   E-30
E-54
I Want To Be In Dixie
The Gaby Glide
Ward & Ford (duet)
980 E-98320
.
E-32
E-39
The Ragtime Soldier Man
Ragtime Cowboy Joe
Ward & Ford (duet)
981   E-36
E-47
Alexander's Rag Time Band
That Mysterious Rag
Orchestra and vocal duo
982   E-33
E-51
The Ghost Of The Violin
The Ragtime Violin
Ward & Ford (duet)
983   E-52
 
Everybody's Doing It Now
Oh! You Beautiful Doll
Ward & Ford (duet)
Orchestra & vocal Duo
984     Baby Rose
Ragging The Baby To Sleep
Ward & Ford (duet)
985     Nobody Loves Me
Pucker Up Your Lips, Miss Lindy
Alf Hartley (comic)
986   E-10
E-23
Farmyard Ragtime
The Ragtime Yokel
Alf Hartley (comic)
B. Carter (comic)
987   E-53
E-56
The Spaniard That Blighted My Life
Woolloomoloo
F. Bentley (= Will Terry)
988     Mr. Cupid
They All Walk The Wibbly Wobbly Walk
Jack Charman
989   E-31
E-37
The Countryman's Holiday
Saturday Night Till Monday Morning
B. Carter (comic) (= Will Terry)
Jack Charman (comic)
990   E-17
 
That Awful Joke
I Burst Out Laughing
Charles Penrose (comedian)
G. Dodd (comedian)
991        
992        
993        
994        
995   E-9915/1E
E-9935/3E
The Future Mrs. 'Awkins
My Old Dutch
Frank Sands
996        
997        
998        
999        
1000 38-4244
38-4233
4320-t
 
The Girl From London Town
My Old Grey Coat
Charles Denton
Billy Williams

The following item hasn't been traced to a 900-series catalogue, though No. 902 plays the same tune by the same artist.

Cat No Matrix Title Labelled Artists Coupling
33-0666 41066 Nobody Knows - Nobody Cares Stanley Kirkby (baritone)  

Note: All the above listings are of standard 10" records. There were 12" Pickofall records as well, but I have no details of any.