I got ahold of three discs of Andrews Sisters recordings. They are are on 3-inch diameter discs and play at the 78 RPM speed. They each contain an abbreviated 30-second version of an Andrews Sisters hit. They are NOT edits of the commercially available 10" 78s. Each has The Andrews Sisters accompanied only by a piano. The records are replicas of the black and gold Decca "Personality Series" label of the 1940s, and the catalog numbers match those of the commercially released 10" 78s of the same songs (although the 10-inchers features full orchestral backing). Does anyone know what these tiny discs were made for? My best guess is that they were made for a children's miniature toy phonograph, although I have not found any info to substantiate that. As a matter of fact. I have found NO information on these discs. I've looked at Andrews Sisters sites, Decca discographies, Andrews Sisters discographies... blah, blah, blah. I came up with nothing, except that some guy sold one of these 3" discs of "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" a few years ago for about $140.00, but gave no info as to its origins.
...My best guess is that they were made for a children's miniature toy phonograph, although I have not found any info to substantiate that.
Over the decades various prototypes for children's record players were introduced. (Check out YouTube videos for the ill-fated Carnival Toy player.) It is possible that the discs you have were manufactured for a commercial or prototype player.
Never heard of these Jim. I have a load of Universal promo 78's for BUCK PRIVATES, IN THE NAVY, HOLD THAT GHOST and many non-A&C, non-Andrews Universal pictures. These are the full studio recordings that were then adapted into the soundtracks of the pictures. The discs were sent to radio stations for promotion. Some of the discs feature numbers that were cut from the picture ("Cow Cow Boogie" sung by Ella Fitzgerald for RIDE 'EM COWBOY and others).
