new machine... many questions

[zenith82]

Thanks for the info. I will definitely try to contact Ron.

Since they are not rare I guess it could be a large demand making the price high. but I wouldn't think there are that many people into these records. I am continuing to Google around, but maybe somebody can give me some tips on where to look. Thanks!

Nope - it's sellers in la-la land. I seriously doubt if they sell very many at those prices.

The good thing is there are literally thousands of common records from the 1900s through the 1920s out there. The best thing you can do now is research how to identify records from this era and start looking around flea markets and thrift shops. You can still find common records in these places fairly easily for no more than a couple of bucks a piece. Plus you don't have to worry about shipping costs and sellers who don't know how to pack 78s.

Here is a website showing what some of the record labels from the different eras look like:

http://www.tedstaunton.com/site_map/site_map.html

[Brad]

Your best option for cheap and plentiful records are flea markets, estate and garage sales. If the seller says "they're rare" and they are in stacks, they don't know what they are talking about. Always make an offer, many sellers will quickly realize that any offer is better than none. This is especially true in antique shops. They will usually accept a low ball offer because they have been sitting that stack of records for a long time.

In general, expect to pay more each for one-zy two-zy purchases than for a box full. I'll pay a buck for a record I want but will only pay a few cents each for a box full, unless it is something very unusual.

If you have a particular taste, you should also consider the record auctions. Look at Naucks and Hawthorn Antique Audio for auctions. You may pay more per record, but you can bid on exactly what you want and will have some idea of condition.

Welcome to the hobby, it is extremely addicting, which you realize you are when machine #4 follows you home

[banjo_picker]

Here is a website showing what some of the record labels from the different eras look like:

http://www.tedstaunton.com/site_map/site_map.html

That is a great resource. Thanks!

[JohnM]

In the years that I lived in the Appalachian mountains of southwest Virginia, I found loads of early country/string band music records at flea markets, garage sales, antiques shops, and auctions, because that is the vernacular music of that region. If you live in the North Carolina mountains -- or even the Piedmont -- that should be true for you, too. The greatest challenge is finding early country music records in good condition, since most were played to death with a well-worn needle.

[phonogfp]

Here is a website showing what some of the record labels from the different eras look like:

http://www.tedstaunton.com/site_map/site_map.html

That is a great resource. Thanks!

I just looked over many of the record listings in the 1900-1909 period. Please take most of the descriptions, dates, and corporate relationships described there with a grain of salt. Mistakes are numerous, which is surprising since the author quotes the Sutton/Nauck book which is an excellent resource. I can't help but wonder why the book was not checked against some of these inaccurate descriptions.

George P.

[zenith82]

In the years that I lived in the Appalachian mountains of southwest Virginia, I found loads of early country/string band music records at flea markets, garage sales, antiques shops, and auctions, because that is the vernacular music of that region. If you live in the North Carolina mountains -- or even the Piedmont -- that should be true for you, too. The greatest challenge is finding early country music records in good condition, since most were played to death with a well-worn needle.

That's the area I'm originally from and where I began my record collecting about 20 or so years ago. There were still a good bit of hillbilly and even blues records to be found then. You are right about condition - most records from back that way show a good bit of gray! Many people in that area didn't have extra money for things like phonograph needles, so one needle might have seen a hundred or more plays.

[zenith82]

Here is a website showing what some of the record labels from the different eras look like:

http://www.tedstaunton.com/site_map/site_map.html

That is a great resource. Thanks!

I just looked over many of the record listings in the 1900-1909 period. Please take most of the descriptions, dates, and corporate relationships described there with a grain of salt. Mistakes are numerous, which is surprising since the author quotes the Sutton/Nauck book which is an excellent resource. I can't help but wonder why the book was not checked against some of these inaccurate descriptions.

George P.

I noticed that some of the dates and descriptions were a little off, too. Even though there are some inaccuracies, I think it's a good site for a beginner to learn to distinguish a 1900s or 1910s record from, say, a post-WWII record. It's not scholarly by any means.