Antique Store Edison Records

[audiophile102]

My wife and I drove about an hour out to Wilmington Illinois to shop at the towns antique stores. I saw hundreds of 78's from the 40's, but I wasn't interested. In one store I looked in a box on the floor and saw the edges of several Edison records. Almost all the Edison's were black label, but two records in the box got my attention. The first was 52462- A Room with a View and Dance Little Lady by B.A. Rolfe. It was dirty, but there didn't appear to be any damage. The second record was 51434- Have a little Fun and Out of a Million by The Merry Sparklers. It was also dirty, but appeared to be undamaged. I looked for the store clerk and there was no one there, only a note on the wall to contact the owner down the block at another antique store about four stores down. I just couldn't leave the B.A. Rolfe behind so I took a chance that I wouldn't be caught shoplifting and walked out with the record. I walked four stores down and found the (trusting) owner of the antique store. I presented 52462 to him and asked, how much. He answered, "Three dollars". I responded that I will to buy it, but first I was going back for 51434. I was so happy when I got home and cleaned both records with rubbing alcohol. They both played so well I was astonished and delighted. I don't recommend walking out of a store with merchandise without paying for it first, but in this incidence I felt that there was exigent circumstances that required me to commit all the elements of a retail theft. All in all it was a fun day. Both records have been previously posted on You Tube.
52462-R https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7C5bcIqUGw
52462-L https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bNRAkp2TDg
51434-R https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuSpwo1dR2s
51434-L https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOjezlsfDiM

[Wolfe]

You did what you had to do. But I wouldn't have been worried about the records being gobbled up while I went down the street. They could have been sitting there a year, and it's not like they were Black Patti's or something.

Nice score anyway !

[Indestructible]

Great story! Sometimes you have to take a chance.
Nice records. Enjoy.