Zon-O-Phones and Columbias connect

A typical 9-inch Universal Zon-O-Phone from 1903

(One of my own records) which is a Rag-Time rarity on a black and silver Columbia also from 1903.

These records can be heard below:

Zon-O-Phone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHraV2W298Q

My Columbia:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74TP3flPds4

Many may come to think that Columbia's and Zon-OPhone records sounded oftentimes the same in the first three years of their existence. The only reason for this odd sounding connection is because of the fact that these two companies shared many of the same staff and performers, also recording executives. This connection then leads to the Climax record label:

This Climax record in particular is a very rare one, because the often called "Broken ring" labels such as this one are very hard to come by and were only sold for a month or two. Climax is basically Columbia with a different name and sort of branding. So this is why many Climax records have what most collectors would call, "solely Zon-O-Phone" performers, such as Fred Hager and his fantastic band. These companies shared Hager's talents, and by looking through the 1898 and 1899 issues of The Phonoscope it can be seen that the record companies(particularly Columbia) were recognizing the young Violinist/bandleader's talents, and recording him by this time. So for a good comparison between Climax and Zon-O-Phone, here is a Climax by Arthur Collins in 1901:

https://ia801407.us.archive.org/21/items/WhenMr.ShakespeareComesToTownByArthurCollins1906/WhenMr.ShakespeareComesToTown1906.ogg

Great piano accompaniment by Fred Hylands! 

Now, compare that with another Collins number, which is also Rag-Time, from 1902:

https://ia802300.us.archive.org/31/items/ArthurCollins_part2/ArthurCollins-TheManWhoPlayedtheTamborin.mp3

Hmm... same piano accompaniment style...

Many of the early Zon-O-Phones were recorded in the same studio as Columbia, and had the same pianist, they just sound slightly different by the fact that they were recorded on disc records rather than cylinders. It's the same piano though. You can notice it especially on some of Edward Favor's many Zon-O-Phone records compared to his Columbia records, and even with his Victors to see how they were different. Here are two Favor Zon-O-Phones:
from 1900: https://ia801406.us.archive.org/25/items/EdwardMFavor/EdwardMFavor-EverythingatReillysMustbeDoneinIrishStyle.mp3 
from 1902:
https://ia801406.us.archive.org/25/items/EdwardMFavor/EdwardMFavor-OnceAgain.mp3
Here's one by Arthur Collins in 1901(absolutely wonderful piano accompaniment Hylands!):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ITot33CDuo
So in all of these records, the sharing of many parts of these record company's staffs and talent can clearly be heard by only a few things that can be heard on records of Zon-O-Phone and Climax, it's all the piano player and the Bands that were recorded on them. It's a very odd connection really, but if you study the piano accompaniment on all of these record labels, you will hear a trend, in comparing it to Columbia's records. It's all the same pianist, and it's where all that great Rag-Time came from so early in the recordings. 

I hope you enjoyed this!