While the Durium Corporation started in 1929, the first release was not until 1930. Hit of the Week records were sold as periodicals at news-stands alongside newspapers and magazines. The records featured currently hot songs preformed by top artists, at a relatively inexpensive price. The sound quality is surprisingly good: While surface noise is higher than average, the fidelity matches almost anything of the period. By 1931 it became apparent that even this was too much of an expenditure for most Americans. The price was raised by 5 cents, and an additional song was added, making Durium a pioneer in the long-play record attemps. This second song rarely lasted more than a minute, but it brought total playing time to greater than four minutes. This effort also failed, and the Durium Products company issued it's last record in 1932.

As far as I can tell, there were four label types for Hit of the Week records.  The record pictured here is from 1930, and well represents the "early" label type. The printing is in two colors (colors varied by record,) and "Durium Products Corporation" is in a straight line.  The second type was also in two colors, but "Durium Products Corporation is in an arc at the bottom of the label.  The third type is similar, but the label is printed in silver only.  The last "long play" type is similar in appearance to the middle type, although two songs are listed, and the grooves are smaller in appearance.   Also "Made in U.S.A. appears at the bottom.  Sound quality remains high.

After Durium raised the Hit of the Week price in 1931, they issue a set of records called Durium Juniors. These records measured 4" in diameter, and were sold for the original 5 cents. It took me 15 years to find one of these, and my most heartfelt gratitude goes to Kurt Nauck, of Nauck's Vintage Records for his help in acquiring these.


For more informaion on Hit of the Week see this HOW page from WAMS.

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