I'm new to 78's and I bought 1941 78's, are they vinyl?

[Sansenoi]

The set box cover art is the same, on the cover it says Victor Records but inside disks say RCA Victor. I have attached a picture of one of my disk labels cor comparison to others on youtube and amazon.

The same exact song and record Just saying "victor" can be seen at this youtube link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-wxFIWF ... 5DF553C91B

[Wolfe]

From what I can tell from the pics (which isn't much) I'd hazard those as shellac, or that shellac-ish / bakelite feeling compound they were using in the late 40's. You should be able to feel some easy flex on their vinyl record if you bend them a little. Though I wouldn't advise bending those to find out.

In any case, like others have said, they're going to wear pretty quick on a mechanical phono. So, if you care for them, play them only on modern kit.

[Sansenoi]

Thanks, I took another look at the disks themselves and at the outer edges of some disks there is flaking/chipping. I am not sure if they are true shellacs but true vinyl shouldn't chip and flake should it. I guess I will have to get a 78 rpm electric player for these like in the youtube video.

Shame, none of the antique stores where I live have and old, easily identifiable shellacs anymore. Again, my only problem is that I like to buy local and avoid shipping. lol I'm a penny pincher. Perhaps I should have lived during the great depression! lol

[Wolfe]

Right, flaking / chipping means for certain they're not vinyl.

I find antique stores to be mostly a bust when it comes to records. Thrift stores and flea markets and the like are much better. Check your local estate sales, too.

Looky, looky at this listing...
http://charlestonwv.craigslist.org/atq/2865186303.html

If I was around there in your area, and I was you, I'd check stuff like this out.

[Sansenoi]

Wow, I'd never had thunk it. I must admit, I never really tried using craig's list for anything. I guess it is a must for this sort of thing.

Thanks for the link

I will use it to aquire disks once I settle on my first gramophone.
I'll be sure to watch craig's list for that too.

[Wolfe]

Yours is a second pressing.

Victor did indeed press in a vinyl compound. As early as 1933. They called the stuff "Vitrolac" and reserved it for special purpose pressings, among which were their "Program Transcription" long playing series, picture records, "Record ReVue" series discs, and some few items intended for radio air play.

But 'Victrolac' doesn't resemble any standard consumer 78 pressings or real vinyl pressings of the late 1940's, like were intended for radio play. Except for the red 'Heritage Series' discs which are a grade of hard and soft (and degree of surface noise) that comes close.

It seems as though in the late 40's they were opting for a slightly softer but still very shellac like disc for awhile, that they stopped using in the 1950's, reverting again to something harder.

[Uncle Vanya]

Yours is a second pressing.

Victor did indeed press in a vinyl compound. As early as 1933. They called the stuff "Vitrolac" and reserved it for special purpose pressings, among which were their "Program Transcription" long playing series, picture records, "Record ReVue" series discs, and some few items intended for radio air play.

But 'Victrolac' doesn't resemble any standard consumer 78 pressings or real vinyl pressings of the late 1940's, like were intended for radio play. Except for the red 'Heritage Series' discs which are a grade of hard and soft (and degree of surface noise) that comes close.

It seems as though in the late 40's they were opting for a slightly softer but still very shellac like disc for awhile, that they stopped using in the 1950's, reverting again to something harder.

My previous post came under the label of "Guest". I have in my collection examples of these earlier Victor vinyl pressings. They are indeed harder and thicker than the late 1940's and 1950's radio station sample pressings, and are indeed just like the 1946 vintage "Heritage Series" pressings. One of these is a single-faced pressing of "Paderewski's Address on the Observance of the Golden Anniversary of his American Debut", which dated, of course to 1941. Iteresting copy, with the usual gold Acoustic Circle Rca Victor white label, but unlike the issued examples, the vinyl copy has a typed title and irecord number. I also recall having a copy of the promotional disc extolling the virtues of Victor's "Red Mill" album, performed by Al Goodman's orchestra and chorus which is made of a similar material.

[Wolfe]

My previous post came under the label of "Guest". I have in my collection examples of these earlier Victor vinyl pressings. They are indeed harder and thicker than the late 1940's and 1950's radio station sample pressings, and are indeed just like the 1946 vintage "Heritage Series" pressings. One of these is a single-faced pressing of "Paderewski's Address on the Observance of the Golden Anniversary of his American Debut", which dated, of course to 1941. Iteresting copy, with the usual gold Acoustic Circle Rca Victor white label, but unlike the issued examples, the vinyl copy has a typed title and irecord number. I also recall having a copy of the promotional disc extolling the virtues of Victor's "Red Mill" album, performed by Al Goodman's orchestra and chorus which is made of a similar material.

So, if we were to define 'Victrolac' we can extend it's use to the Heritage Series records. Jolly good. You're probablt right.

Because 'Victrolac' is a vinyl compound that falls short of what we think of as modern 'vinylite.' which is what RCA Victor did use, at least for some applications, in the late 40's and into the 50's. Real vinyl, flexible and thin.

[Sansenoi]

So, if my 4 disk set is victrolac I know one thing for sure. Aged victrolac can pit or flake.

There are no flakes in the bottom of the sleeves but there is pitting in the outer rim of the disks when viewed on edge. This could be a symptom of the pressing process of victrolac when manufactured perhaps. I don't know since there is much more pitting than flaking around the edges but no residue in the bottom of the sleeves the records have been sitting in for years.

Perhaps they were always that way since manufacture or some component of victrolac simply evaporates over time leaving a pit. Maybe I just got records made with a bad batch or an overheated pressing machine that allowed victrolac to evaporate around the edge when pressed and trimmed.

Nonetheless, I'm sure the quality of the records sound is fine and so far, my version of "the birth of the blues" RCA-Victor disks are the only example I can find on the internet that doesn't just say "victor". I guess I'll have something to talk about when someone looks at my disk set some day.

Thank you all for the wealth of information for this 78 newbie.

[Wolfe]

So, if my 4 disk set is victrolac

Likely not what could be called Victrolac, just in my humble opinion.