Label Styles

If you take a detailed look at the labels of rollers (cobs), you may be quite surprised at the variety of styles! The following chart shows major changes. In general, the red labels are oldest, and then the white and yellow. But there appears to be no discernable pattern to truly “order” labels according to manufacturing date. Due to reissuing of older rollers, and evidently the mixing of current labels, anything is possible.

In addition, there are no certain pairings of labels. Although the matching circles are often found together, some are not. Several rollers even mix red and white labels.

Black Labels

Very early Black Label Cobs have unique labels and construction.

Front Labels

(Click image to enlarge)

StyleColorPatentNo.CircleComments
black N O.thickBlack Label Cobs, no patent
red PAT. JULY 14,
1885.
N O .thickink-stamped patent
redJulyN O.thick
redJulyNO.thick
redJulyNO.two
redJulyNo.two
redJULYNo.none
rednumberNo.none
buffnumberNo.none
yellownumberNo.nonebright yellow
yellownumberNo.nonedull yellow

Rear "Directions" Labels

(Click image to enlarge)

StyleColorSentenceEmblemCircleComments
blacktwononethickBlack Label Cobs
redtwononethick
redonenonethick
redone8-pointthin
buffone8-pointthin
redone4-pointnone
buffone4-pointnone
yellowone4-pointnone
yellowone8-pointthin

Grand Labels

(Click image to enlarge)

StyleTypeComments
front
rear
side not common
 
 
 

Todd Augsburger's Roller Organ Website