Standard Talking Machine Co.

Early 20th century mail-order record company based in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1904, the Standard Talking Machine Company released records on the Standard Disc Record label with 1/2-inch wide spindle holes that could only be played on its own large-spindled phonographs. By 1916, Standard could no longer compete with other giant mail order merchandising houses like Sears Roebuck & Co and merged with several other minor labels (Busy-Bee-Record, Harmony Record and United Record) to form the Consolidated Talking Machine Co. of Chicago.