All dealer deliveries of gramophone records from 21 October 1940 were subject to the new 'luxury goods' rate of purchase tax of 33? per cent to discourage consumption of goods during wartime. Manufacturers increased basic prices from 1 January 1942 to cover rising costs. The purchase tax rate was doubled to 66? per cent on 15 April 1942 and increased again on 13 April 1943 to 100 per cent.
pre-war
from
from
from
labels
size
price
1 Jan 42
15 Apr 42
13 Apr 43
Regal Zonophone, Rex
10-inch
1s 6d
2s 5½d
2s 11d
3s 4½d
Columbia, HMV, Parlophone magenta, Decca F series, Brunswick RL series, Beltona blue
10-inch
2s 0d
3s 0½d
3s 7½d
4s 2d
Brunswick O series, Columbia and Parlophone dark blue, Parlophone Rhythm-Style, HMV plum, Decca M series, Polydor PO series, Beltona red
10-inch
3s 0d
3s 11d
4s 8d
5s 4½d
Columbia light and dark blue, HMV red and plum, Parlophone dark blue and Odeon, Brunswick, Decca DE, K and LY series, NGS
10-inch
4s 0d
4s 10½d*
5s 9d
6 7½d
Columbia light blue, HMV red, Parlophone Odeon, Decca-Polydor CA and X series
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