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.

Very early Black Label Cobs have unique labels and construction.

(Click image to enlarge)

Style	Color	Patent	No.	Circle	Comments
	black		N O.	thick	Black Label Cobs, no patent
	red	PAT. JULY 14, 1885.	N O .	thick	ink-stamped patent
	red	July	N O.	thick
	red	July	NO.	thick
	red	July	NO.	two
	red	July	No.	two
	red	JULY	No.	none
	red	number	No.	none
	buff	number	No.	none
	yellow	number	No.	none	bright yellow
	yellow	number	No.	none	dull yellow

(Click image to enlarge)

Style	Color	Sentence	Emblem	Circle	Comments
	black	two	none	thick	Black Label Cobs
	red	two	none	thick
	red	one	none	thick
	red	one	8-point	thin
	buff	one	8-point	thin
	red	one	4-point	none
	buff	one	4-point	none
	yellow	one	4-point	none
	yellow	one	8-point	thin

(Click image to enlarge)

Style	Type	Comments
	front
	rear
	side	not common