Identifying records for use with a Victrola VV-XI?

[vfr800fiman]

Hi all-
I'm new to this forum, but not to antique phonographs. I have an Amberola 30 that I inherited from my Grandmother.

My Wife just recently purchased a Victrola VV-XI that I restored for her (works great now). She also just bought a box of about 75 78 RPM records. I think most of them are the Victor "Batwing" labels, which I believe are okay to play on the Victrola. There are however some other labels in this box, such as Decca, and Capitol, which I'm not sure should be played on this machine. I think from my reading the cutoff for lateral cut orthographic records was about 1935?

Anyway, my question is how do you tell what records are safe to play on this machine? Obviously some of the artists like Frank Sinatra give it away, but some I'm not sure about. I don't want to damage any of the records.

Any advice? There's probably no cut and dried answer, but any tips would help.
Thank you.

[gramophone-georg]

Hi all-
I'm new to this forum, but not to antique phonographs. I have an Amberola 30 that I inherited from my Grandmother.

My Wife just recently purchased a Victrola VV-XI that I restored for her (works great now). She also just bought a box of about 75 78 RPM records. I think most of them are the Victor "Batwing" labels, which I believe are okay to play on the Victrola. There are however some other labels in this box, such as Decca, and Capitol, which I'm not sure should be played on this machine. I think from my reading the cutoff for lateral cut orthographic records was about 1935?

Anyway, my question is how do you tell what records are safe to play on this machine? Obviously some of the artists like Frank Sinatra give it away, but some I'm not sure about. I don't want to damage any of the records.

Any advice? There's probably no cut and dried answer, but any tips would help.
Thank you.

If they're shellac and not vinyl they are safe to play. You may want to consider picking up a Victrola No. 4 reproducer in good condition for electrically recorded records but not required.

[52089]

This is one of the most often asked questions on this board. You will find many answers and opinions by doing a board search.

[epigramophone]

A pre-1925 soundbox will not damage later shellac records provided that it has been well maintained i.e. no rock hard gaskets or stiff stylus bars, but it will not reproduce electric recordings to their full potential. Many owners bought new soundboxes to update earlier machines when electric recordings first appeared, so a later soundbox on your VV-XI can be considered a perfectly valid period modification.

[vfr800fiman]

Thanks everyone.
How do you know if it's vinyl and not shellac? Just by the weight? Rub alcohol on it in the runout area?
How do you know if it's electrically recorded? I have seen some records that do say that right on the label, so those are easy!

I like the idea of getting another reproducer. I have been looking at getting a #4 for this machine as I saw that people used to update these as the technology moved forward.

I just re-built/re-adjusted the Exhibition soundbox with new gaskets, so that's good as-is.

I have about 4 Frank Sinatra records, but I thought these were too new to play on the Victrola.

[Wolfe]

Vinyl is considerably lighter and smoother than shellac. You shouldn't have too much trouble telling them apart. Aside from V-Discs there aren't really any vinyl 78's from before about 1946. If you date your records online or through books you can also begin to sort them on that basis.

I wouldn't play vinyl 78's on an acoustic machine, personally. Shouldn't be any vinyl Frank Sinatra 78's unless they are V-Discs or very late Capitols from the 50's. Very common records anyway, Sinatra. Those laminated shellac red label Columbias of Sinatra are a dime on dozen, so go ahead and chew them up on your Victrola !

[Phono48]

Vinyl 78s bend, shellac ones difinitely don't!

[Wolfe]

I have some vinyl DJ promo 78's that are amazingly thin and light (and bendy). It's an interesting contrast btw. those and the standard shellac records that were still being produced. Of course the DJ records were to be played on (presumably) up to date equipment.

[vfr800fiman]

Vinyl is considerably lighter and smoother than shellac. You shouldn't have too much trouble telling them apart. Aside from V-Discs there aren't really any vinyl 78's from before about 1946. If you date your records online or through books you can also begin to sort them on that basis.

I wouldn't play vinyl 78's on an acoustic machine, personally. Shouldn't be any vinyl Frank Sinatra 78's unless they are V-Discs or very late Capitols from the 50's. Very common records anyway, Sinatra. Those laminated shellac red label Columbias of Sinatra are a dime on dozen, so go ahead and chew them up on your Victrola !

Funny you should mention the red label Columbias, because that's exactly what some of them are. You know your stuff!
I also have a few that are of French origin.
This is going to be fun finding out what is what.

Thanks for the replies everyone, I learn more every day.

[phonojim]

You really don't want to play anything made after about 1930 on an acoustic phonograph because shellac compounds began to change around that time and the records wouldn't hold up as well to the heavy soundboxes of the older machines. For that matter, the electrical pickups made into the 1940s could be pretty rough also. It wasn't until about 1947 when GE introduced their RPX series that lightweight, high compliance cartridges which required less tracking force became generally available. During the 1950s, vinyl did become somewhat commonplace for consumer pressings.

Jim