Silvertone

The Silvertone label was produced by various manufacturers for mail-order sale by Sears, Roebuck & Company. Sears claimed use of the Silvertone trademark on phonographs and records since October, 1915, and discs first appeared in their autumn, 1916 catalog. Silvertone replaced Sears' popular [l=Oxford Disc Record] label and initially was manufactured by the Columbia Graphophone Company.

The earliest Silvertone records were single-sided discs drawing on Columbia masters, including material recorded as early as 1903. Columbia master numbers served as Silvertone's catalog numbers.

Silvertone labels underwent several changes between 1916-1928. The earliest labels bore an elaborate piper design, which appeared in negative form on an orange background. In 1917, a simpler, more ornate design in gold on purple appeared. Sears temporarily discontinued the Silvertone record in 1918-19, but re-introduced it as a double-sided disc in 1920-21. These bore blue labels and a redesigned trademark in flowing silver script. These were manufactured by the Federal Record Corporation and drew on their masters, and were numbered in a short-lived 5000 series. Silvertone's most familiar tan label was introduced in Fall 1923 (2000 series) and persisted until the label was discontinued and replaced with the [l=Supertone (5)] brand in mid-1928. During this period, Sears relied on numerous manufacturers for records, including Columbia, Pathé, Regal, Federal, Emerson, Brunswick-Balke Collender, and New York Recording Laboratories.

The Silvertone label was briefly revived twice by Sears. In 1940-41, Silvertone releases were produced by the and drew on masters from the / pool as well as older material. Finally, the Silvertone brand was revived one last time in 1947 for red vinylite pressings under a completely redesigned label that was produced by .