Berliner Gramophone formulations remained the standard disc record material until the first vinyl records – initially made only for radio use and other special applications – were introduced in the 1930s. Beginning in 1896, Berliner's gramophones were made by Philadelphia-based machinist Eldridge Johnson, who added a spring motor to drive the previously hand-rotated turntable. Berliner also opened an office in New York City, staffed by Frank Seaman and O. D. LaDow and organized as the National Gramophone Company. Master recordings were made onto zinc plates, which were then electroplated and a negative-image "mother" made from them to stamp discs. A major reversal
Aco Records Aco Records Aco Records or ACO Records was a British record label active from 1922 through 1927. Aco was a budget label, producing 10 inch and 12 inch double sided gramophone records. Aco was a subsidiary of the Aeolian Company Ltd. of London, which in turn was an affiliate of the United States based Vocalion Records. The material was mostly popular dance tunes and songs of the day, together with some light Classics and operatic selections. Aco seems to have made no recordings themselves, instead taking masters from both British and US Aeolian, as well as leasing masters from U.S.-based