45-SLEEVES - HOME
Revised 22/1/12

BELL
US Labels and Company Sleeves 1953-1960

Labels (1-154 series - 45 RPM and 78 RPM)
This series ran from 1956 to 1960 (1-154). From 1958 (# 80) - 45 RPM only.
1 - 1956
to
16 - 1956
17 - 1956
and
18 - 1957
19 - 1957
and
20 - 1957
23 - 1957
to
38 - 1957
21 - 1957
and
22 - 1957
Bell Records was founded in 1952 by Arthur Shimkin in New York after the rights to the name were acquired from Benny Bell who used the Bell name to issue risque novelty records. Bell originally specialized in budget generic pop music, with the slogan "music for the millions". Originally sold on seven-inch 78rpm and 45rpm records for 35 and 39 cents. Bell also issued sound-alike cover versions of hit records on 45rpm disks priced at 49 cents. One of these records was by "Tom & Jerry" who would later be famous using their real names Simon & Garfunkel.
 In 1959, Mala Records was started as a subsidiary label and in 1960, another subsidiary label, Amy Records was founded.
In 1961, Larry Uttal purchased Bell, along with its Amy and Mala subsidiary labels. Uttal concentrated on the Amy and Mala labels, and rendered Bell dormant. The Bell label was revived in 1964. Continue to Bell (1964-1974).
32 - 1957
34 - 1957
39 - 1957
to
154 - 1960
1 - 1954
and
154 - 1960
......
Labels (1000 - series - 78 RPM and 45 RPM)
1006 (78)
1953
1006 (45)
1953
1021 (78)
1954
1025 (78)
1954
The 1000-series ran from 1953 to 1956 (1003-1132). The same catalogue numbers were used
for both 78 RPM and 45 RPM.
Many different labels and colours were used.
1041 (78)
1954
1045 (45)
1954
1057 (45)
1954
1068 (45)
1955
1075 (45)
1955
1075 (78)
1955
1098 (78)
1955
1123 (45)
1956
........
Sleeves (1-154 series)
Range
Front
Back
Details
No 1
.
to
.
 Cut straight  Inside glued  
Most of the records in the series were all issued with their own special sleeves.
The size was an unusual 8 inches tall and 7 inches wide, with a side opening.
    A large number of these records had a different artist on each side. 
See example (No 108) above.
..
Sleeves (1000-series - 78 RPM)
Range
Front
Back
Details
No 1 a
.
to
.
Small print
 Cut straight  Glued bottom/right  
No 1 b
.
to
.
 
Small print

 
   Cut straight  Glued bottom/right  
No 1 c
.
to
.
 
 Back missing
Small print
   Cut straight    

 
No 1 d
.
to
.
 
 Back missing
Small print
   Cut straight    
No 2 a
.
to
.
 
 Large print
   Cut straight  Glued bottom/right  
No 2 b
.
to
.
 
Large print
   Cut straight  Glued bottom/right  
No 2 c
.
to
.
 
Large print
   Cut straight  Glued bottom/right  
No 2 d
.
to
.
 
Large print
   Cut straight  Glued bottom/right  
No 2 e
.
to
.
 
Large print
   Cut straight  Glued bottom/right  
No 3 a
.
to
.
 
 Back missing
Distributed by
Pocketbooks Inc.
   Cut straight    
No 3 b
.
to
.
 
Distributed by
Pocketbooks Inc.
   Cut straight  Glued bottom/right  
No 3 c
.
to
.
 
Distributed by
Pocketbooks Inc.
   Cut straight  Glued bottom/right  
No 3 d
.
to
.
 
Distributed by
Pocketbooks Inc.
   Cut straight  Glued bottom/right  
No 3 e
.
to
.
 
Distributed by
Pocketbooks Inc.
   Cut straight  Glued bottom/right  
No 4
.
to
.
 
 Back missing
Distributed by
Pocketbooks Inc.
   Cut straight    
No 5 a
.
to
.
 
Distributed by
Pocketbooks Inc.
   Cut straight  Glued bottom/right  
No 5 b
.
to
.
 
Distributed by
Pocketbooks Inc.
   Cut straight  Glued bottom/right  
No 6 a
1024 - 1954
1028 - 1954
1064 - 1955
   Cut straight  Glued bottom/right  
No 6 b
1024 - 1954
1028 - 1954
1064 - 1955
 Back missing
   Cut straight    
...
Sleeves (1000- series - 45 RPM)
Range
Front
Back
Details
No 1
.
to
.
 Front missing
35c
   Glued bottom/right  
No 2
Around 1057 - 1954
49c
Distributed by
Pocketbooks Inc.
   Cut straight  Glued bottom/right  
No 3 a
.
to
.

 
Distributed by
Pocketbooks Inc.

 
   Cut straight  Glued bottom/right  
No 3 b
.
to
.
Distributed by
Pocketbooks Inc.
   Cut straight  Glued bottom/right  
No 3 c
.
to
.
Distributed by
Pocketbooks Inc.
   Cut straight  Glued bottom/right  
No 3 d
.
to
.
Distributed by
Pocketbooks Inc.
   Cut straight  Glued bottom/right  
No 4 a
1028 - 1954
1029 - 1954
   Cut straight  Glued bottom/right  
No 4 b
1028 - 1954
1029 - 1954
   Cut straight  Glued bottom/right  
A special Picture sleeve for 1000 series (45 RPM)
Also see Sleeves (1-154 series) above
S 1
1128 - 1956
Back upside down
Distributed by
Pocketbooks Inc.
   Cut straight  Glued bottom/right  
....
Contact for corrections : erlmehl@online.no
...
Thanks to Pete Nash, Essex, England for scans and info in this section
...
Thanks to Dave Turk, Denver, Colorado for scans in this section
...
Thanks to Tony, NYC for scans in this section
...
Thanks to Zoli Mikoczy, Malmö, Sweden for scans in this section
...
Thanks to Middle-Earth Records for scans in this section
...
Thanks to Karl-Heinz Decker, Germany for scans in this section
....
Thanks to Gary L. Anderson, Albany, NY  for scans in this section
....
Thanks to Øystein Aarsheim, Bergen, Norway  for help in this section
....
Thanks to Bill Mangahas, Farmingdale, NY for scans in this section
...
45 Discography for Bell Records from Global Dog Productions
.....