12" album binders

[TVfuzz]

Thanks. I'm getting both books then.

[Wolfe]

The typical record binder/album is a record killer. Turning the page sleeves causes stress on the record's edge which eventually causes arc-shaped cracks. Unless you are completing a machine that might have been originally sold with a certain binder, stay away. Most that I find are coming apart so I break them down to acquire the individual sleeves.

Don't open them out flat. Get your bicep muscles going and cup the edge of the binder in one hand and gently flip through the sleeves with the fingers of the other hand, just enough to see the labels. That way you beat the binder curse.

[larryh]

I agree, experience is the best teacher. I have probably only broken one record in a binder and that was a very old one probably 50 years ago by now and most of my collection is in binders. Simply doing as I an the previous writer said, only opening the binder enough to see the titles and then removing the record from the top is very safe.

Its also true that many binders are of poor quality and didn't hold up and the others that don't are simply too old.

Larry

[Retrograde]

I use albums for a lot of my records. I have found that setting the album upright on the floor or a cabinet, opening the covers about 60-90 degrees, then fanning the leaves out is a good way to avoid breaking records. The records go in and out easily and nothing gets broken. I leave the album standing upright as a play through the records. When I'm done the records are all back in the same sleeves. Works for me.

(I think this is the same concept that LarryH mentioned above.)

[Couch Potato]

Yes the old albums tend to be pretty crispy and easily fall apart even when in pretty nice condition. However if someone wants to reinforce them what kind of tape would would one use? I seem to recall libraries using something that appears like cloth based tape. Perhaps such could be utilized to strenghen the individual sleeves to the binder. Seems a wast to fill something such as a Victrola XIV or XVI with empty albums that means more records stored someplace else(which can cause consternation with other family members). I have a Victor A to J set that's in good condition but I too am thinking of putting them in my machine empty for show and not actual use. Pity. Only thing worse would be tossing them and these are way too good for that. I have in the past tossed some when they are just crumbling.

[FloridaClay]

Yes the old albums tend to be pretty crispy and easily fall apart even when in pretty nice condition. However if someone wants to reinforce them what kind of tape would would one use? I seem to recall libraries using something that appears like cloth based tape. . . .

Yes, it is good stuff. Do a Google search for clothe library tape or cloth book tape.

Clay

[Wolfe]

Some of my albums appear to be much more modern than these 20's 30's 40's things that are often fragile. The modern albums are very sturdy and have good heavy paper stock. Don't know where they came from though, no manufacturer info...