Metropole “A Striking Record” · Pre-war and wartime record sleeves up to 1945

Metropole “A Striking Record”

A plain Metropole company sleeve with two clock towers, punning on the striking of a clock.

Dating at a glance

Printed: from 1928
probably about 1928 – early 1930s
In use: Not established
Confidence: Low-medium
Basis: The start date of the Metropole label; its end date is not established

The sleeve

Brown paper printed in dark blue: METROPOLE in an arc above the hole and A STRIKING RECORD in an arc below, with a clock tower in the style of Big Ben on either side. There is no company name, address, price or printer’s imprint.

Simon took two photographs. He notes the design appears the same on both sides.

Brown Metropole sleeve printed in dark blue with two clock towers either side of the centre hole and the words A Striking Record. — Simon’s sleeve. Select the image for a larger view.

Second photograph of the Metropole sleeve. — Second photograph; the design appears the same on both sides.

The evidence

DocumentedThe label began in April 1928. Metropole records first appeared in April 1928 at 3/- each, with catalogue numbers from 1001 to over 1300. The label soon became an outlet for Piccadilly masters (M. G. Thomas).
InferredAn end in the early 1930s is likely but not established. Piccadilly, whose masters Metropole used, ended in April 1932. We found no end date for Metropole itself.
ObservedNo address or price is printed, so nothing on the sleeve narrows the date further.

Sources

M. G. Thomas, British labels M (Metropole): http://www.mgthomas.co.uk/Records/labelindex-M.htm
M. G. Thomas, Piccadilly label page: http://www.mgthomas.co.uk/Records/LabelPages/Piccadilly.htm

What we could not find

The date of the last Metropole issue.
Any other Metropole sleeve design, which would show whether this one was the only one.

Researched 12 November 2026 from Simon’s photographs of that evening.