Dating 78s: start with Victor

[mjbarnes]

Is there an online catalogue to get info on Victor disks from the catalogue number?

And really, are most of them worthless? People are giving them to me, and if I don't like the tune I am getting rid of them again. I have a suspicion they are unsellable.

[Jmcmahan67]

Try the link below to the discography of American historical records at UC Santa Barbara

https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/ ... ndard_3287

This is a searchable database, and you can search by manufacturer, record label, and by other means.

It is true that most 78’s aren’t worth very much. Some are most aren’t but I suspect that a lot of 78 collectors don’t necessarily value worth in terms of money. If you’re looking for a long-term investment, you can probably do a lot better than 78s. You can also download the Popsike app and you can search for records that way to tell you their value.

John

[drh]

Try the link below to the discography of American historical records at UC Santa Barbara

https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/ ... ndard_3287
...

One caution: I regret to say that recently I've been finding DAHR to be somewhat squirrelly.

Sometimes I'll search for a record number that I *know* is in the database, but the record won't come up. In those cases, I find that searching for the artist name and then doing a plain old "CTRL-F" type search for part of the record title is a viable workaround. At other times, I get this weird error message about "too many users are logged in; try again later." I wrote to the powers that be, and they seem to be aware of that issue.

[OrthoFan]

When I initially do a search for a record, I type in the title along with the catalog number stamped on the record in the Google search box. In most cases that leads me to an online discography--normally the UCSB site.

For a good general purpose, comprehensive online discography, you might also want to try the 78 discographical project site - -

https://78discography.com/

[emgcr]

This is a very useful reference.

[Jim_Cannon]

When I initially do a search for a record, I type in the title along with the catalog number stamped on the record in the Google search box. In most cases that leads me to an online discography--normally the UCSB site.

For a good general purpose, comprehensive online discography, you might also want to try the 78 discographical project site - -

https://78discography.com/

This site, the 78 discographical project, is my go-to source. But it gives you no idea of value.

[OrthoFan]

For a good general purpose, comprehensive online discography, you might also want to try the 78 discographical project site - -

https://78discography.com/

This site, the 78 discographical project, is my go-to source. But it gives you no idea of value.

I know of no comprehensive online discography that includes a price guide. The problem is "value" is arbitrary when it comes to old records--most 78s included.

The most valuable 78 rpm records tend to be extremely rare prewar (WWII) blues/bluegrass recording sold through high‑end auctions or private sales. Some have reached well into five‑figures, but that's far above the vast majority of 78s, which average $2-3 per disc (realistically) in today's market. This is due to the fact that tens of millions of 78s were sold and millions (probably) still exist--worldwide.

Delta blues especially on labels such as Paramount, Vocalion, Okeh, and similar small companies currently rank at the top, in terms of sales value, because many titles survive in only a handful of copies and no metal-based masters were kept. Within those catalogs, specific artists (Tommy Johnson, Robert Johnson, Charley Patton, etc.) and their songs are especially sought after. Higher prices are also seen for some early rock‑and‑roll, rockabilly, and regional issues (including some Beatles and Elvis 78s pressed for foreign markets).

Keep in mind that value depends on rarity and artist, as well as condition, label, etc., though some major label records--Columbia, Victor, Brunswick, Edison, etc.--can sell for more than the standard couple of dollars-- $10-$50 -- depending on who the performer is and overall popularity with current listeners. (See https://www.valueyourmusic.com/78-rpm )

In some cases, a high price paid for a common record is more of a fluke, such as a copy of (Crosby's 1947 version of) "White Christmas" I saw listed on eBay. It sold for about $30 even though it's probably the most common 78 in existence.

I realize this is pretty general information, but, as always, the final selling price is contingent on what the buyer is willing to pay.

OrthoFan

[mjbarnes]

My priorities are to enjoy them and date them. Living on a small island, I won't find much of a market for disposing of ones I don't want. And because space is limited I really do want to keep my collection to what I am going to like listening to.

Thanks for all the knowledgeable comments. Appreciated as always.

[OrthoFan]

My priorities are to enjoy them and date them. Living on a small island, I won't find much of a market for disposing of ones I don't want. And because space is limited I really do want to keep my collection to what I am going to like listening to.

Thanks for all the knowledgeable comments. Appreciated as always.

That's really what my outlook is. And like you, my space is limited--a few square feet here and there for storage. In my nearly 50 years in the hobby, I've only had a few desirable or collectable 78s: one I gave to a CW music museum at the request of the proprietor--never got so much as a gotohell as an acknowledgement--and the others have been "gifted" to friends in the hobby.

OrthoFan

[Woody]

One resource that might help you estimate collectibility is Discogs. If you look up the entry for each individual 78, there is usually information about sales information, such as the range of prices the 78 has fetched and the most recent sale price. They also show who already “owns” a copy (meaning that they list it on their individual Discogs collection page) and who “wants” it (meaning they have it listed on their Discogs want list).

It’s by no means perfect. It only contains basic sales data for transactions that occurred via Discogs, and the people who bother to catalog their collections on Discogs represents a tiny, tiny share of collectors. Having said that, if you look up a 78 and see that 100 people own it and ten people want it, that’s a pretty good sign that it’s not collectible, whereas a 78 that only one or two people (or zero people!) own but dozens or hundreds want, well, that’s probably a rare one.

Again, it’s far, far from perfect, but it’s a decent resource.