Vim Records


Vim Records was a short-lived American record label that was active during the early 1900s. Vim discs include issues of ragtime banjo music recorded by Vess L. Ossman.

History

The Vim Company was founded in 1896 in Chicago, Illinois, and it was active in labeling records in the first decade of the 20th century. Vim was primarily a sporting goods store but also sold bicycles and electrical goods. Record Research newsletter categorizes the firm as a "Department Store Label", meaning the owners entered an agreement with an already established record company, and "... they proceeded to have their own records pressed with the name of the department store prominently printed on the label."
Vim Records were single-sided lateral cut disc records. Vim was recorded and manufactured by the International Talking Machine Company and Leeds & Catlin.
The company offices were moved between 1901 and 1903. Known address are:
A branch office was opened in late 1903 at 704 West Walnut Street, Des Moines, Iowa. In 1906 the branch was moved to 808 West Walnut Street, and in 1907 it was moved to 204 7th Street. This location remained open until late 1908 when the firm of Harger & Blish, an established firm from Dubuque, Iowa, were appointed the jobbers in Des Moines.
The last listing for the firm producing records in Chicago was in the Edison Phonograph Monthly January 1910 issue.
The owner and president of the company was Leon Atwell Olmsted, a native of New York who moved to Chicago in the 1890s. After opening his first store in 1896, he eventually expanded to seven stores in Chicago and another seventeen throughout the nation. It was reported that he died in a fire at his home in Minocqua, Wisconsin, at the age of 63, but it was soon learned that he died of exhaustion after fighting the blaze. At the time of his death in 1936 the stores were being managed by his son Leslie B. Olmsted.

Record numbers

The record numbers on Vim labels can be broken down into multiple series. The following companies are known to have produced records for Vim.
All unprefixed record numbers in the chart below appear to have been produced by IRC. Every artist and recording name matches up with the IRC catalog numbers.

Record labels

The word "Vim" in stylized cursive text appears on all of the record labels along with a double lined border, the company name, "Chicago, Ill.", and the words, "For Any Disc Talking Machine". The background color for all labels is beige, but in some photos the coloring appears to be white, light yellow, or mint green. Aging and years of handling have caused some labels to become dark beige in appearance.
Some labels have the recording details printed in black ink while others are in red ink. It is unknown if there is any significance to the printing color of the recording details.

Recordings

All recordings in this chart must be verified by seeing the information on a Vim Record label or in a Vim Company catalog. A Leeds & Catlin or International Record Company catalog that do not specifically state "Vim Record" are not sources for adding new records to this chart.
Unconfirmed information in any row must have an asterisk symbol placed beside the information. This may happen because the label is not readable or the information was not printed on the label. The International Record Company recording catalog is useful for obtaining Vim Records information, but unless actually seen on a Vim label, all such information should be marked with an asterisk symbol.
All information in the chart must be placed in order by the "Record Number."
Record NumberArtistRecording NameTypeYear Recorded & Notes
Frederichs and StrangeJesus Lover of My SoulDuetThis is likely baritone William Frederichs and soprano Ellen Strang, but the title is not in the IRC catalog. Spellings of their names differ.
316Metropolitan BandCoax MeMedley Two Step
604Peluso's OrchestraGrand March from "Faust"
1575*Frank StanleyThe Old Church BellBaritone Solo*
1604Frank StanleyWhen the Mocking Birds Are Singing in the WildwoodBaritone Solo
1621Joe BrownSo Long MaryBaritone Solo
1640Arthur Collins Orchestra AccompanimentYou Look Awfully Good To FatherBaritone Solo
2050Billy Murray*Give My Regards to BroadwayTenor Solo
2054Billy MurrayI've Got a Little Money, and I Saved it All For YouTenor Solo
2098Billy MurrayYou're A Grand Old RagTenor Solo
2099Billy MurrayCheyenne *Tenor Solo
2105Billy MurrayHow Would You Like to Spoon With Me?Tenor Solo
2707Spencer & JonesEvery Little Bit HelpsVaudeville Sketch
3003Vess L. OssmanThe Gay GossoonBanjo Solo
3006Metropolitan BandFree Lance March
3009Metropolitan Band of New York*The Flag of Victory MarchBand*
3040G. P. WatsonHi Le, Hi Lo Yodel Song
3059Metropolitan Band of New York*Stradella OvertureBand*
3063Metropolitan Band of New York*Hero of the Sea March
3098 Vess L. OssmanSo Long Mary, Intro. "Mary's a Grand Old Name"Banjo Solo
3105Collins & HarlanIt's up to You to MoveBaritone and Tenor Duet
3113Metropolitan Band of New York*Royal Italian March Band
V-2Harold EisenbergTraumerei Violin Solo
V-11Henry BurrSilver HeelsTenor Solo
X304Metropolitan Band of New York*Merry MakersBand
X317Metropolitan Band of New York*First Kiss WaltzBand*
X323Metropolitan Band of New York*At The Race TrackBand
X336Metropolitan Band of New York*The Forge in the ForestBand
X617*OrchestraThe Jolly CoppersmithWith Vocal Solo and ChorusOnly a partial record number was visible so this could by just "617".
X620Peluso's Orchestra*Love's Dreamland WaltzOrchestra
X635Peluso's Orchestra, with calls*Metropolitan LanciersBand
X638Peluso's Orchestra, with calls*Recreation quadrilleBand
X642Peluso's Orchestra*Miesrere from "Ill TrovatoreOrchestra
X 1523*Arthur Collins*The Preacher and the Bear"Baritone and Orchestra Accompaniment
X 1532Frank C. Stanley*Where the Sunset Turns to Ocean's Blue to GoldBaritone Solo with orchestra accompaniment
X 1572Frank C. StanleyOld Man MoonBaritone Solo with Orch. Accom.
X2087Byron G. Harlan*Somebody's Sweethart I want to beTenor Solo
X2163Henry Burr & George GordonMy Old Kentucky Home''Tenor & Baritone Duet

Other labels

There are at least two other record labels that use/used the acronym "VIM."