Identifying 78's at a Thrift Store - a brief tutorial

[VintageTechnologies]

Don't overlook that bin full of 45's, there could be a Berliner hiding in there. But seriously, rare records show up in the unlikeliest places. I and hundreds of people tramped past a long table at a huge outdoor flea market. I noticed a pile of dirty 7" records and picked one up. There were ten of the earliest Climax and Columbia records there, two dollars each. Yup, I bought 'em all!

[oldphonographsteve]

Don't overlook that bin full of 45's, there could be a Berliner hiding in there. But seriously, rare records show up in the unlikeliest places. I and hundreds of people tramped past a long table at a huge outdoor flea market. I noticed a pile of dirty 7" records and picked one up. There were ten of the earliest Climax and Columbia records there, two dollars each. Yup, I bought 'em all!

I once found a 7 inch standard disc record mixed in with 45s, it was one buck! Finding 10 early columbias certainly is an amazing find.
-Stephen

[phonogfp]

Steve, please check your PMs.

George P.

[Curt A]

I always love the "May I help you find something... what are you looking for?" Honestly, I never know what I'm looking for and if I make some attempt to explain what I am interested in, I am treated to a (1) blank stare, (2) what is a cylinder record?, (3) a phonograph - "Yes, we have an album full of them, but no names on them...", or an assortment of other interesting suggestions which are unrelated...

[edisonplayer]

Some think that ALL 10 inch records are 78's and ALL 12 inch are LP's.That's what I've found.One time at a flea market I found a 7 inch black and silver Columbia and a 7 inch Emerson mixed in with 45's.Some would think ALL of them are 45's.It happens! edisonplayer

[Oceangoer1]

Somehow I always get into an argument with thrift store/estate sales people about the price on 78's. They have them at the same price as LP's. They will swear up and down that each 78 is really an album full of songs and that I am paying for each song. I then proceed to explain that there is only one song on each side and that $10 for one 78 is ridiculous! This usually ends up with them inspecting the record themselves and carelessly breaking it at the same time

So usually when I find the 78's, I do not let anyone else touch them, not even the person selling them. I had one guy "inspect" a Victor album full of nice 78's and he broke all but one right in front of my face as he flipped through the album. For some reason he didn't notice what he had just done, because he then tried to sell me the album full of broken, rattling pieces.

[78recordpicker]

I've only been collecting 78s for 3 years but have had decent luck at some Good wills and Sallies, often at a particular store. I recently picked up several nice Cameos, acoustic Okehs, Vocalions, early Victors such as Sousa, etc recently. Paid either 25 cents or 50 cents for almost every one, a few for a buck (my thrifty thrifty store limit).

[VintageTechnologies]

I always love the "May I help you find something... what are you looking for?" Honestly, I never know what I'm looking for and if I make some attempt to explain what I am interested in, I am treated to a (1) blank stare, (2) what is a cylinder record?, (3) a phonograph - "Yes, we have an album full of them, but no names on them...", or an assortment of other interesting suggestions which are unrelated...

When asked what I'm looking for, I always reply that I'll know when I see it.

When I go to an Ace Hardware store looking for some odd bits to repair a techno-antique, some twenty-something "kid" will ask what I'm trying to do. I usually tell them that I am repairing "some old machinery". If pressed for further details, I'll say something like "I am trying to rebuild the reproducer on a Graphonola". Blank stares, every time!

[Springmotor70]

I'll add that when looking thorough that large stack of un-sleeved records that smooth edges do no necessarily mean acoustic recordings. What it does mean is that they are pre-war. There was 15 years of electrically recorded discs that have a nice smooth edge as well. The sharp edge appeared during the war. This edge is also notorious for getting caught in early knife changers.