78rpm records produced in New Zealand

Part 2. Recording Studio Labels

Many large and smaller towns in New Zealand had a local recording studio, where records would be cut either directly, or from a tape master, onto usually on aluminium-cored discs coated with cellulose nitrate lacquer (often known as “acetates”).

All are outside start, 78rpm, aluminium-core unless noted. Dates of use are noted where found.

For completeness, some 45 & 33¹/3 rpm items are included.

ANDERSEN SOUND SERVICES

Dunedin

12”, 1956

Record label
Anderson Sound Services
Dunedin
Plunket Handicap
Forbury Park Trotting Club
8th September 1956

33¹/3 rpm, 10”

Record label
Anderson Sound Services
Dunedin
Norman Long
Side 5

33¹/3 rpm, 12”, 1964

Record label
Anderson Sound Services
Dunedin
Hutt Valley Pip Band
Dunedin Contest 1964

Kevin ASHLEY

Waimate

10”, 45rpm, 1963

ASTOR

Auckland

Pressed by Astor Recording Studios. 48 Shortland St.

7”, 1945

Record label
Astor Productions
Auckland
A few words from the Choirmaster
Recorded at the Boys' Home Onehunga
New Zealand
August 1945

10”, 1952

Record label
Astor Personality Records
Auckland
Played at Playhouse
Auckland
15/5/1952

10” & 12”

Record label
Astor Recording Studios
Kerridge Odeon

33⅓ rpm

1959

(discogs)

24 Grafton Road

1965

(discogs)

Astor Recording & T.V. Studios 24 Grafton Road, then 31-33 Nugent St.

10”

Record label
Astor Recording & TV Studio
Lincoln Industries Ltd
Advertisements

Sleeves

AUCKLAND RECORDING SERVICE

Auckland

33⅓rpm

AUDEX

Palmerston North

12”, 33⅓rpm

B&R Recording Co

Auckland

10” 78rpm

BARTON RECORDINS

Auckland

6” 78rpm

W. BATE

Blenheim

10” 78rpm

Record label
W. Bate, David Street, Blenheim.
Wood-Mears Wedding Ceremony Part 5

BEACON RECORDING STUDIOS

Auckland

10” 78rpm

(discogs)

BELLBIRD

Ashburton

10” 78rpm

BLENHEIM RECORDING STUDIOS

Blenheim

12” 78rpm & 7” 45rpm

Record Label
Blenheim Recording Service
George Moller
plays some of his own melodies

Sleeve

7”, 45rpm

Record Sleeve
Blenheim Recording Service
7"

10” bag

BORHAM’S RADIO SERVICE

Palmerston North

10”, 1946

Record Label
Borham's Radio Service Ltd
Palmerston North
Wanganui Queen Alexander's Own Band
Appreciation March
1946

10” & 12”, 1946-50

Record Label
Borham's Radio Service Ltd
Palmerston North
Here's to love and laughter

Sleeve

12”

BROADWAY RADIO & T.V. LTD

Dunedin

12”, 33¹/3 rpm

Record Label
Broadway Radio & TV Ltd
Dunedin
A wedding service

H.L. BYRN

Masterton

10”, 1958

Record Label
H.L. Byrn
Masterton
"Les Parre" wins at Masterton
March 1st 1958

CHESHIRES RECORDING

Heretaunga (Upper Hutt)

10” 78rpm

CHRISTCHURCH RECORDING STUDIO

Christchurch

12” (Inside Start)

Record Label
Christchurch Recording Studios
Did your Mother cone from Ireland
Sung by Roy Gliddon
Clarence Hall at Piano

CHRISTCHURCH RECORDINGS

Christchurch

10” & 12”, 1950-51. Note design similarity with Family Recordings, and same phone number.

Record Label
Christchurch Recordings

Sleeves

COLUMBUS RADIO CENTRE

Wellington

Label of the Recording Corporation of New Zealand

10”, 1949

Record Label
Columbus Radio Centre Ltd
My Pet (Zez Confrey)
Mr T. Barton
Piano solo

Sleeves

10”

Known in red, brown, green, black & blue.

Known in red, brown, green, black & orange.

12”

Known in blue & black.

COMBER & KERRISK

Hawera

12” 78rpm, 1957

COMMERCIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE

Wellington

10” & 12”, Inside Start, 1938

Record Label
Commercial Broadcasting Service
Discoveries Club Theme
Track 1 Closing Chorus
Track 2 Verse & Chorus

CONTINENTAL

New Plymouth

12”

Record Label
Continental Studios
New Plymouth
G. Wickham Saks?
Silver Hair and Heart of Gold

COURIER RECORDING SERVICE

Palmerston North?

12” 33⅓

CRAFT

Auckland

10”, 33⅓

Aurora Recording Studios

Record Label
Craft
Aurora Recording Studios Ltd
Auckland
Kay & Shane
Country Touch
1968-1969

JOHN DICKINSON

In 1958, the stationers John Dickinson & Co experimented with pressing advertising tracks into plasticized card, at 45rpm.

A trial example (the finish of the 1958 New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase) is illustrated, along with its envelope.

DIXON’S SOUND SYSTEMS

Hamilton

10”, 1951-1956

Record Label
Dixon's Sound Systems
Hamilton
Waikato Racing Club
November 17th 1951
Ruakura Stakes Handicap
Race Commentary by S. Tonks

12” card sleeve

Record Sleeve
Dixon's Sound Systems
Hamilton

DOBBS-WIGGINS GOLDBERG (DWG)

Wellington

10”

Record Label
DWG Dobbs-Wiggins Goldberg Ltd
Wellington
Castrol Ltd
Advertisements

DOWN’S RADIO SERVICE

Marton

10” & 12”, 1954

Record Label
Down's Radio Service
Marton
Invercargill march
Massed Bands at Levin
28/11/1954

10”, 1962

Record Label
Down's Radio Service
Marton
Marton Jockey Club
2/1/1962
Juvenile Handicap
5 flags

Wanganui

10”, 1967

Record Label
Down's Radio Service
Wanganui
Feilding Jockey Club
25/3/1967
Taonui Nursery Handicap
Six Furlongs
Winning Words

Sleeves

10”

12”

DUNFORD RECORDINGS

Christchurch

12”, no phone number.

Record Label
Dunford Recordings
Christchurch
Wedding Service
John McBell & Helen Malcom

10” & 12”, Phone 69-536

Record Label
Dunford Recordings
Christchurch
City of Wellington
Fast (speed?)

10”, Phone 75-817, 1954

Record Label
Dunford Recordings
Christchurch
Golden Wedding
Played by
The Stavemasters at 1954 Contest

Sleeves

12”

ELECTRICAL RECORDING CO

Wellington

10”, 78rpm

Record Label
Electrical Recording Co
Wellington
Cornet Solo (Tucker)
Soloist: D.B.M:H. Gear
Conducted by H. Neave

FAIRCLOUGH SOUND SYSTEMS

Wanganui

10”

Record Label
Fairclough Sound Systems
Wanganui

FAMILY RECORDINGS

Christchurch

12”, 1950. Note design similarity with Christchurch Recordings, and same phone number.

Record Label
Family Recordings
Christchurch
Peninsula
Van Dieman
21/5/1950

FIDELITY RECORDING STUDIOS

Christchurch

12”, 33⅓, 1956

GISBORNE SOUND SYSTEMS / P.R. STEVENS

Gisborne

10”, 78rpm, 1958

Record Label
Gisborne Sound Systems
Processed by P.R. Stevens
The Poverty Bay Turf Club
Meeting at Makaraka 25th October 1958
The Presidents Handicap
won by High Fidelity

10”, 78rpm, 1963

Record Label
Gisborne Sound Systems
Processed by P.R. Stevens
The Poverty Bay Turf Club
Meeting at Makaraka Racecourse 11th May 1963
The Waipaoa Handicap
3rd Place to Kimmara

10”, 78rpm

10”, 33¹/3 rpm, 1966. Note – “Not Microgroove”.

Record Label
Gisborne Sound Systems
The Poverty Bay Turf Club's meeting held
at Gisborne 14th May 1966
The Publican's Handicap
3rd place to HYGI

GOLDEN BAY SERVICES

Takaka

10”, 33⅓

HANNAH RECORDING

Hastings

10”

Record Label
Hannah Recording
Napier?

HARRIS SOUND SYSTEMS

Napier

10”, 33¹/3 rpm, 1973

10”, 33¹/3 rpm, 1975. Note later phone number.

Sleeve

10”

HI-FI RECORDING CO

Wellington

10”, 1958

Record Label
HiFi Recording Co
Wellington
W. Gregg Co Ltd
Liptons Tea
Advertisements

Sleeve

HMV

Wellington

10” Commercial Recording, 1960s.

Record Label
HMV Commercial Recording
Wellington
Maria Dallas Show
U.B.A. Ltd
Masterton

10” Process Recording

Record Label
HMV Process Recording
Wellington
L.O. 3651
Kangaroo Quiz Opening and Closing theme

Sleeve

The Jungle Book, 1967

10” Process Recording

J. ILOTT LTD

Wellington

12” Commercial Recording, 1947

12” Radio Advertising

ISLAND BAY

Wellington

10”

“IMPORTANT” excised

Sleeves

10”

12”

Handstamp used on sleeves.

“IMPORTANT” excised

JOHN FRASER PRODUCTIONS

Timaru

JORDAN’S

Invercargill

12”, 1951-63

‘K’ SOUND SYSTEMS

Wanganui

10”, 1954

12”, 33¹/3 rpm

Handstamp on plain sleeve.

KELLY RECORDING STUDIOS

Auckland

8” & 12”

Label sticker on plain 12” sleeve

LINTAS

Wellington

Lintas = Lever International Advertising.

33¹/3 rpm.

LOMAS

Dunedin

10”, 1956

10”

LOTUS

Wellington

78rpm

MAGNESS RECORDING STUDIOS

Auckland

10”, 45rpm, 1966

MANAWATU SOUND SERVICE

Palmerston North

10”, 33¹/3 rpm, 1969.

10”, 33¹/3 rpm, 1972

Sleeves

MASCOT RECORDING CO

Auckland

MASTER SOUND (DRURY STUDIOS)

Auckland

10”, 33⅓rpm, 1958

(discogs)

MAYFAIR

Dunedin

Julian Lee Recording Studios

10”, 78rpm, 1954

McKay & BIRCH

Whangarei

12”, 78rpm, 1953

MELLOTONE

Wellington

Newtown Recording Studios. (see NRS)

10” 33⅓

METRONOME

Timaru

12”, 1952

10”, 1953-56

N.Z. BROADCASTING SERVICE

Wellington

10” & 12”, 1948+

NAMARA RECORDING STUDIOS

Wellington

12” Aluminium

(Trademe)

NATIONAL BROADCASTING SERVICE

12”

12”, “Dominion of New Zealand”, 1947

16”, 33⅓, 1949

NEEDHAM RADIO and STUDIO LTD

Pukekohe

10”, 1951

NELSON SOUND RECORDING SYSTEM

Nelson

6”, 45rpm

NEW ZEALAND BROADCASTING SERVICE

Wellington

NEW ZEALAND RECORDING STUDIOS

Christchurch

12”, 1947

NEW ZEALAND RECORDING & PUBLICITY STUDIOS

Christchurch

10”, 78rpm

NRS

Wellington

Newtown Recording Studios. See Mellotone.

10”, 33⅓

OAMARU RECORDING SERVICE (ORS)

Oamaru

10”, 1957

OCTAGON RECORDING STUDIOS

Dunedin

10”, 1952

ORLY PRODUCTIONS LTD

Christchurch

12”, 33¹/3 rpm

PACIFIC

Dannevirke

12”. Steel core, 1951.

12”, 1951

7”

(ex discogs)

Instructions on sleeve

PHOTOGRAM

Auckland

7”, 78 rpm

On aluminium Speak-O-Phone discs, Dec 1933-Apr 1934

(Trademe)

PLATA

See Nelson Sound Recording System

PREMIERE

Dunedin

12”, 33¹/3 rpm

PRESTO

Generic home-recording disc

8”, recording by Ronald Castle, Wellington, 1947

PRESTO-CUT RECORDINGS

Levin

10” 78rpm, 1953

RACE RECORDING SERVICE

Auckland

10”,45rpm, 1966

on MAGNESS

RADIO SUPPLIES RECORD

New Plymouth

10” & 12”, 1951-62

RECORDING CORPORATION OF NEW ZEALAND

Wellington

10”

RECORDING STUDIOS LTD

Wellington

8”

10”, 1937

REXELS

Palmerston North

12”, 33⅓rpm, 1958

ROBBINS RECORDINGS

Christchurch

10”

10”, 33¹/3 rpm

Larger label, 1962-69

Sleeves

78rpm

33¹/3 rpm

12”

ROTORUA RADIOS LTD

Rotorua

10”

SCAMMELL and EGLINTON

Wellington

10”, 33⅓rpm, 1967

SHEPHERD’S SOUND STUDIOS

Christchurch

10”, 78rpm, 1952

SHIPLEY’S RADIO SERVICE

Christchurch

12”, 1956-58

THOMAS E. SIMS

Wellington

10”

12”, 33¹/3 rpm

SKILTONS

Palmerston North

8” and 10”

10”, 33¹/3 rpm, to 1970

SONIC RECORDING STUDIOS

Wellington

10”

10”, 33¹/3 rpm

12”, 33¹/3 rpm

SOUND RECORDINGS

Auckland

10” 78rpm

SOUNDCRAFT STUDIOS

Wellington

10”, 1938

12”, Steel core

SOUNDTRAX RECORDINGS

Ashburton

10”, 78rpm, 1950

Keynote Sound Systems

STANNAGE RADIO LTD

Auckland

10”

STARADIO

Wellington

10”

STEBBING’S SOUND SYSTEM

Auckland

10”, 1949

12”, 1946

10”, 33¹/3 rpm

STEWART’S RECORDING SERVICES

Timaru

10”

TANZA

Wellington

10”, shellac

10”, vinyl

Decorative obverse of red label

12”

IAN L. TAYLOR

Hawera

10”, 1960

TELESLIDE

Wanganui?

10”, 33⅓rpm

TIMARU RECORDING STUDIOS

Timaru

10”, 78rpm

12”, 1952

10”, 33¹/3 rpm, 1976

Sleeve

12”, on Stewart’s Recording Service

TRICITY HOUSE

Christchurch

10”, 78rpm

TRUE TONE RECORDING SERVICE

Wellington

12”, 78rpm

TRUTONE RECORDING STUDIO

New Plymouth

Sleeve

TRUTONE RECORDINGS

Alexandra

10”, 78rpm, 1954

WHINCOP’S RADIO SERVICE

Napier

12”, 78rpm, 1953

WORD OF LIFE

Tauranga

10”, 33¹/3

ZODIAC

Auckland

10”

Sleeve

Others offering recording services in New Zealand were:
(some are 33¹/3 rpm or 45 rpm)

KIWI DISCS (New Plymouth)
JOHN POTTS'
RADIO BROADCASTING CO

V.S. RECORDINGS Christchurch
WILDING RECORDING STUDIOS

Scans of any of the above, or others not recorded here, welcomed.

(Many thanks to Alistair Gilkison for many additions to this list plus Stephen Jones, Andrew Fraser & Andrew Edwards for some new labels to illustrate.)

For references used, refer Australian and New Zealand 78s
Plus Dennis O. Huggard's booklets on Stebbing & Tanza.

Back to Part 1. Commercial Record Labels

Back to Home

Since July 2018 the bulk of these recording services’ records now form part of the Adam Miller Collection within the Archive of New Zealand Music at the Alexander Turnbull Library.

Descriptive records for these discs are available for browsing under the reference ATL-Group-00302 at the following URL:

https://tiaki.natlib.govt.nz/#details=ecatalogue.964425

Last updated 13/10/2024
(c) 2007+ Adam Miller