Radiex Records was an American record label during the 1920s. It was manufactured by Grey Gull Records of Boston, Massachusetts, from 1921 until the demise of Grey Gull in late 1930; it was then pressed for a few more months into 1931 by the successor firm, which continued the Radiex, Van Dyke and Madison labels. Radiex records were sold in Montgomery Ward catalogs although they were not manufactured specifically for that firm. In some cases, records have been found which had the labels of other Grey Gull products over Radiex labels or vice versa.
Grey Gull Records was a record company and label founded in Boston, Massachusetts in 1919. The company was started by Theodore Lyman Shaw, a member of a wealthy and prominent family from Wellesley, Massachusetts whose ancestors included Civil War hero Robert Gould Shaw.
Van Dyke Records was an American record label from about 1929 through 1932. Van Dyke was a subsidiary of Grey Gull Records of Boston, Massachusetts. Other than jazz by Clarence Williams and Cliff Jackson, most Van Dyke records were dance band numbers by Grey Gull's house band, which included Mike Mosiello, Andy Sannella, and Charles Magnante. The text on the label of Van Dyke 78 discs proclaimed "Each Record a Masterpiece".
Madison Records was an American record label. It was founded in 1958 by Larry Uttal. It lasted until 1961 when Uttal absorbed the label into his newly acquired Bell Records.
Radiex records were standard, lateral-cut, double-sided 78 rpm discs pressed in various colours of shellac which generally wore down easily. The earliest paper sleeves in which Radiex records were sold described them as "The Record of Beauty." The issues are popular vocal and dance numbers of the era, from masters recorded by Grey Gull, Plaza Music, Emerson Records, and sometimes Paramount Records. The Radiex label was discontinued (on 78 r.p.m. discs) in 1931
Shellac is a resin secreted by the female lac bug, on trees in the forests of India and Thailand. It is processed and sold as dry flakes (pictured) and dissolved in alcohol to make liquid shellac, which is used as a brush-on colorant, food glaze and wood finish. Shellac functions as a tough natural primer, sanding sealant, tannin-blocker, odour-blocker, stain, and high-gloss varnish. Shellac was once used in electrical applications as it possesses good insulation qualities and it seals out moisture. Phonograph and 78 rpm gramophone records were made of it until they were replaced by vinyl long-playing records from the 1950s onwards.
Emerson Records was an American record company and label created by Victor Emerson in 1915.
Paramount Records was an American record label known for its recordings of jazz and blues in the 1920s and early 1930s, including such artists as Ma Rainey and Blind Lemon Jefferson.
A fairly large number of label designs and colour variations were used on Radiex records over its short lifespan. Little is known about the source of the "Radiex" name, which may have been used to suggest some connection with radio.
Radiex discs bore the same catalog numbers, and contained the same material, as Grey Gull and other products of that company. There are, however, examples of Radiex issues using other takes of the same tunes as the corresponding Grey Gull issues (for example, Sweethearts on Parade on Radiex 1587, which uses a faster take -A with partly different solos than on the slower take -B used on Grey Gull 1587). Radiex Records were numbered in a 1000 series (dance music), a 2000 series (vocal), a 4000 series (standards) and a seldom-found 7000 race series, along with a mysterious 8000/8100 series whose function is not currently known.
When the Grey Gull firm ceased business in late 1930, a successor firm continued pressing Radiex, Van Dyke and Madison records until some point in the spring of 1931. These records carried Madison numbers (5000s followed by 6000s) and also had an 800/900 series which paired older Grey Gull "B" sides; a few country records have been seen with 51xx numbers. These records are visibly slightly different from the earlier Boston-pressed Grey Gull products.
Record collector and reissue specialist David Lennick of Toronto, Ontario, revived the use of the Radiex name for CDs.
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