Beacon

US label owned by producer and music publisher [a=Joe Davis (4)]. Label was produced between 1942-1946 by the Beacon Record Company (331 W. 51st Street, New York, NY). Davis reportedly bought the rights to Harry Gennett's wartime shellac ration to launch his new label at a time when materials were scarce and starting up new record companies was discouraged. In return, Gennett used the proceeds to refurbish his aging [l94537] pressing plant in Richmond, IN. As part of the deal, Davis also briefly produced a new version of the [l94537] label for a brief time around 1945. These Gennett records are distinguished from classic Gennett records of the 1920s by the presence of a treble-clef trademark that did not appear on the originals. In 1946, Davis abandoned both Beacon and Gennett and focused his energy on production of his own [l94536] (later renamed [l78089]). Some Beacon material was reissued on those labels. For company credits, see [l=Beacon Record Co.]