December 10th in Gennett History, 1901 & 1918: a VERY important day, as In 1901, Joseph W. Jones received his patent for ‘a process of producing sound records, one of the steps of which was the cutting of a laterally undulating groove in suitable material (wax).” The patent expired on 12/10/1918 and Gennett disregarded Victor’s lateral patent held by Victor (Eldridge Johnson patent). The expiration of Jones’ patent and Gennett’s victory over the Johnson patent led to the birth of race and hillbilly recordings and “indie labels.”
Eldridge Johnson Provisional Patent
Gennett Records Discography 