Collecting Children's Picture Records

Collecting Children's picture records is a challenging and rewarding endeavor! I've been collecting over 30 years and there are still records that I have never seen! If you collect these you are probably in the same boat, but that's what makes it interesting.

The illustrators of these records had great imaginations as you can see in viewing my record images. For instance the company VOCO put one of their records in Santa's nap sack as a present for some lucky child(See VOCO(Pt2): EBSC[SC2])! The Talking Book Company was very creative with their die-cut animals/figures and books. The talking games four record set has a small image on top, bottom, left and right of every record corresponding to the central image on each record(See below).

Condition: Since these were children's toys, it's difficult to find them in mint/near mint condition. I have some that were literally used as teething toys! Try to find examples that are in at least VG condition when possible. Some of the rare records are lucky to be found in any condition!

The music is another story of which I don't intend to tell. Although you can hear some of the music of selected records via YouTube and other sources.

Antique Show Nov 8-9, 2013

This was a show that I set up at to share part of my Picture Record Collection with attending patrons. I was given 7 display cases to fill (below).

VOCO Records
1949 -

It seems the company tried to make sealed edge records(like the RGA P series). The easter bunny image (left) was a die-cut record that had to be cut round before it could be sealed. Most of these are poorly made with cracks and/or darkened images.

Voco produced some 6 inch(smaller versions) of some of their early records and they are fairly rare. (I have 501/601, 502/602, 503/603, 504/604, 506/606, 507/607, 508/608, 509/609 and 510/610). Voco also produced 511/611 both with and without border text (See VOCO(Pt1): 511/611, 511a/611a).

There were two Christmas box sets X524/624 through X531/631 and X524-2/624-2 through X531-2/631-2 (See VOCO(Pt2)). Each set of 8 records came in a box(left)

with 8 sleeves (front:Santa - addressable to/from, back: holly wreath) and 8 small sheets of music(ex: right).

Circus Set of 4: Rabbit→Ringmaster(above:right), Cat→Tightrope Walker, Dog→Strongman, Elephant→Clown  [See Late 40'sPt1: VOCO(Pt2)→701/801]. Big Top Box outside (above:left), Circus Big Top Box inside (above:middle).

This is the later cover (version 2) of the circus set, a paper cover, I just came across recently (after 40 years of collecting! - That's part of the fun of this hobby!) left: front, right: back (addressable). This cover being made of thick paper is why it doesn't come up very often, probably few have survived!

Durability: All (exceptions above) Voco records are not edge sealed so they tend to de-laminate. Look for missing recorded clear film, and flex marks from previous bending.

RGA(Record Guild of America) P Series Records
1949 -

This series was distributed in several ways. Single records were packaged in a simple graphic, soft paper sleeves. There were two types of sleeves (ex: 4002P[type1-left,type2-right]}. The type 1 sleeve has the Parent's Magazine seal of approval while the type 2 also has the number 2525 on the back (ex 3002P: right)[Note: This curious example sleeve has only a "Recommended/Approved" seal.]. The type 2 sleeve seems to be more rarely found. These sleeves are difficult to find intact, but make a nice addition to the P series, 24 record set.

Series of 4 records were sold in a set (ex: 1000P series Christmas Set - right).

And a box set of 12 records were also made(left). Apparently this box was also used for later non-picture record sets.

Also there were two types of center holes: round and star (images right). The round hole P series records are the most prevalent. This would also make another nice set of the star holed records!

This is album 17(left), Cowboy Songs(this particular set has the star centers).

Durability: Since these records were edge sealed, they tend to chip and the records crack when flexed. The color images, protected by the "vinylite" coating", remain vibrant, even after almost 70 years!

Talking Book Corporation Records
1918 - 1920

Victor Hugo Emerson was responsible for several companies that produced early picture(quasi) records that are prised by collectors today: Talking Book Corporation, Emerson Phonograph Company and The Talking Photo Corporation (that produced Talk-O-Photo records - although not a children's picture record, an interesting product! [See examples: Emerson/EMisc]). The Talk-O-Photo records allowed the buyer to hear silent film star's voices).

The records you find may very slightly from what you see on this site. For instance I have two of the same Talking Books, one has a copyright of 1919 on the bottom margin while the other does not. Both the parrot and the mocking bird have two variations: open and closed beaks (ex: right)

The Talking Games 4 record set was sold in a box with a book(left: image of "John Brown had a little Indian" - Courtesy of the HER Collection [See TALKING BOOK CORP(Pt3):TalkingGames to see the other 3 records in the set]) This set was also marketed through La Velle's Bob O Link Books. The La Velle Book (cover shown - right) includes 2 double sided records(instead of 4 picture records).

Some of the records produced by the Talking Book Corporation were early products and a large quantity of those were produced. A Talking Book Ad for Dealers(most of these are relatively easy to find)[right]. Records produced just before the company when out of business are quite rare(ex: Santa Claus and the Hollikids).

One of the companies ideas was to make a game called "Hunting Big Game" [Below, See TALKING BOOK CORP(Pt3):Misc] to include some of the animals/birds with targets in the middle as a cross marketing venture. Although I have a hard time seeing a mocking bird or singing frog as "Big Game", these were meant to appeal to a younger audience.

This is the mailer for the book "Twilight and Dawn in Birdland". Image (Internet Sales) front (left), back (right). The back of the mailer shows advertising for other Talking Book items.

Durability: Watch out for 1) Figures (bends, pieces missing, grommet missing, records cracked/damaged, faded images). 2) Talking Books (missing pages, soiled pages, record damage), 3) Talking Game Records (edge chips, cracks, faded graphics).