Stainless Stephen Earns a Stripe

In 1932 Durium founded a studio and factory in Slough, near London, to produce commercial (cardboard) record series. The firm also produced advertisement and custom records. In 1934 the firm broke, but the cardboard advertisement records production continued, first as Dubrico's and later as Sound Distributors. Sound Distributors broke somewhere in 1936.

"STAINLESS STEPHEN" EARNS A STRIPE
Arthur Clifford Baynes (a.k.a. "Stainless Stephen")
Matrix number S.D. 91-A, Catalogue number S.D. 91
Vocal recorded in Manchester, circa 1935

This small 5-inch (11.5 centimeters) CD-sized cardboard record was recorded in Manchester according a leaflet that survived and not in Slough, a suburb of London, the usual place for Sound Distributors (and its precursors). The leaflet reads: "Here is the first gramophone of the kind ever recorded in Manchester." It was made for the United Cattle Products Ltd. based in Manchester.

STAINLESS STEPHEN is a hot Radio Favourite
who sings the praises of the finest winter food in the world.
With the compliments of UNITED CATTLE PRODUCTS LTD.
Produce Exchange Buildings, MANCHESTER.
Record by Cross-Courtenay Ltd., Manchester

Stephen Stainless was a music hall star whose real name was Arthur Clifford Baynes (1892-1971). Around the mid-1930s he appeared in "Radio Parade", a film with music hall acts. On the record he sings "the praises of the finest winter food in the world", of course produced by United Cattle Products.

The small custom record was posted in an envelope.

TO M. ……………………………………………………………
U.C.P. TRIPE RETAILER OF ……………………………………………………………
M. …………………………………………………………… OF ……………………………………………………………
HAS APPLIED TO U.C.P. FOR A GRAMOPHONE RECORD
BY STAINLESS STEPHEN – FREE, AND HAS GIVEN YOUR
NAME AND ADDRESS AS THEIR USUAL TRIPE RETAILER.
NEXT TIME THIS CUSTOMER MAKES A PURCHASE FROM YOU
WILL YOU KINDLY HAND THIS FREE RECORD TO YOUR CUSTOMER.
WITH COMPLIMENTS AND THANKS

An advertisement, or leaflet, shows Stainless Stephen behind a microphone promoting hot tripe and the little gramophone record. U.C.P. ran a chain of cafes in England which served tripe and brawn, so the title might be a pun. Stainless Stephen makes the phrase "Earns a stripe" sound like "Earns his tripe". The food in question was tripe and cowheels. Click here to listen to the full song (mp3 format).

On the cover a picture of Stainless Stephen with a microphone and a record and a bowl of Hot Tripe
Source: Durium Advertisement and Custom Records discography - Hans Koert

Source: http://hitoftheweek.blogspot.com.
For the images and the song we thank Gavin/Arkhonia.

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