ABSTRACT
A British firm, established April 1898 in London. The founders were William Barry Owen, on behalf of Emil Berliner, and Trevor Lloyd Williams; the firm had exclusive rights to distribute Berliner merchandise in Europe. At first the product of the company was limited to spring-motor disc machines and seven-inch discs imported from the U.S. In July 1898 Fred Gaisberg came from Berliner’s Philadelphia studio to initiate local recording in Britain. Pressing was done by Joseph Berliner’s Telphonfabrik in Germany. By November 16 it was possible to issue a stock list of English recordings as well as one of American pressings. In November 1898 a system of matrix numbering was established.
