Angelophone was a short-lived American record label and phonograph producer founded in 1916 by Charles Taze Russell of the Watch Tower Society. It was based in Brooklyn and produced phonographs and discs primarily for religious use. The label’s records, which featured hymns and sermons by Russell, were sold as sets of 50 records, with each disc featuring a hymn on one side and a sermon on the other. The records, however, faced quality issues, particularly with Russell’s voice being weak and hard to understand. After Russell’s death in 1916, and amid internal disputes within the Watch Tower leadership, Angelophone ceased operations in 1917 and was removed from the cost list by 1919.
The phonographs were assembled by 13 volunteers from the Watch Tower Society and were sold at a modest price. The label’s Superba phonograph featured a unique Art Nouveau design with angel wings. Angelophone may have been the first label solely devoted to Anglo-American religious music, making it an important early player in the religious record market. However, due to leadership conflicts and poor sales, the label disappeared quickly, leaving behind a legacy of early Christian-themed recordings.
Angelophone Records Discography
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