ABSTRACT
A New York producer of inexpensive discs, established in 1921 in New York, with C.F. Siemon as president (he was also president of the Siemon Hard Rubber Co., Bridgeport, Connecticut, the parent firm of Cameo). Henry Waterson was vice president, then became president sometime before 1925. Recording was done in the laboratories of Earle W. Jones, an ex-member of the Columbia Graphophone Co. recording staff. Pressing was done at the Siemon plant in Bridgeport, which could turn out 50,000 discs per day. In February 1922 the first discs were released, offering a repertoire of dance music and other popular items. In a brief effort to bring in classical material as well, Eugene Ormandy-beginning his American career as concertmaster of the Capitol Theater Orchestra in New York City-was signed for several violin solo discs. Special records were made for individuals, with client labels if desired. Macy’s department store was the principal outlet for Cameo records, which sold for $0.50 each.
