The John Bull record was a product of The English Record Company, formed in the autumn of 1909.
They started a new system for selling records, known as the Tally-man system. This involved sellng the records directly to the public using door-to-door agents. The client would sign a contract to buy so many records over a set period, probably about 50 in a year, for a set price of 2/6 per record.
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“GRAMOPHONE GRABBERS. HOW THE 'SOMETHING FOR NOTHING' DODGE FAILED. We have received several complaints of the dealings of a firm of gramophone vendors, trading alternately as the John Bull Gramophone Company and the English Record Company, Ltd., which is now in liquidation. Having for several years worked the something-for-nothing dodge for all it is worth, the company has now come to the end of its tether. In each case which has been brought to our notice, the gramophone was ostensibly given away on condition that so many records were purchased from the firm within a given time. A Kensington reader bought eight records on the delivery of his instrument and six more afterwards, at intervals of one week. At the end of this period, the company's representative ceased to visit him. Two and a half years have elapsed since the agent's last call, and it is only now that the concern is in extremis that he has received any intimation with reference to his contract with them. A few weeks ago he was honoured with a sharp and peremptory letter from a firm of solicitors calling upon him to pay three guineas forthwith, he having made default in his weekly payments. The purchaser will be well advised to ignore this imperative communication. We have little doubt that he has already paid far more than the value of the goods received, and in view of all the circumstances the alleged contract will never bear legal scrutiny.”