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5" Berliner #458

Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2018 10:36 pm
by donniej
A kind and generous individual loaned me 5" Berliner #458 for duplication and I just finished the first copy this evening. It's such a strange disc, the print below the spindle hole is the German patent info, so there's no song title. The disc is incredibly smooth and the sound quality is surprisingly good. The speed is high (~100rpm-ish) so playback time is short, but the strangest part is the material the disc is made of. It's not rubber or shellac but celluloid. The disc is thin and smooth, and feels like the material Blue Amberols are made of.
An upload of it playing will soon follow.

Re: 5" Berliner #458

Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2018 10:56 pm
by Mlund2020
That is pretty awesome, can’t wait to see the video . Do you expect to offer copies for sale? If so count me in for one.

Re: 5" Berliner #458

Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2018 11:31 pm
by Lucius1958
Ah, yes: I recall reading that Berliner had tried celluloid in his earliest pressings, but found it did not wear well: hence the move to vulcanite, and finally shellac. :geek:

Again, if you do decide to sell copies, I'm in.

Bill

Re: 5" Berliner #458

Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2018 11:34 pm
by TinfoilPhono
I'd be a buyer for a copy as well. Please let me know.

Re: 5" Berliner #458

Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2018 11:39 pm
by gramophone78
Count me in for one too... :D.

Re: 5" Berliner #458

Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2018 2:15 am
by gramophone-georg
Same here!

Re: 5" Berliner #458

Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2018 2:41 pm
by bfinan11
Me too! Probably the closest I'll ever get to having a record from the 1880s.

Re: 5" Berliner #458

Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2018 7:29 pm
by Curt A
Me too... be careful with it (the original), as it's worth several thousand dollars... maybe more...

Re: 5" Berliner #458

Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2018 4:00 am
by Orchorsol
I'd love a copy too. What's the recording?

Re: 5" Berliner #458

Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2018 4:31 am
by WDC
Fantastic to see that a collector with a decent 5" record opened up to this.

As far as I can make out the title it is "Hohenfriedberger", which would usually relate to a march.

Please count me in for 3 copies.