The word Victor in runoff area

[Neilvanstem]

Anyone ever see this before with the word Victor in the run off area of this seven inch record? Wondering if you have any information about this. Thanks. 

[phonogfp]

I've wondered about these for many years, but have never read anything about it.  My presumption is that it was an anti-pirating maneuver that was very quickly dropped.  Here are a couple of 10" Monarchs with the same treatment...

 

George P.

 

This one is at my house:

 

This one is from the Internet, many years ago...

 

[Guest]

I have a stack of Monarchs and have never seen that in the runout. My curiosity is causing my brain to itch.

[MikeSherman]

I have not seen this before, but I would concur with George that this was an abortive anti-pirating measure.  These recordings were made in 1902.  Earlier that year, while Easton was abroad, Johnson had purchased the Globe Record company (cutting off Columbia’s source for discs) and stamped the Globe stampers with a “VTM” in the runoff area.  When Easton returned, a return of Globe was negotiated in exchange for a dropping of Columbia’s pending litigation.

 

I think it’s reasonable that Johnson saw the value of marking the stamper (and thereby the pressed disc) with some identification more permanent than the label.  But as the threat of piracy receded, that extra measure was likely no longer needed.