The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

CptBob wrote:I'm just wondering what would you launch a 78 with? Are launchers made for them or does someone at the other end of a field just throw them as high as they can?

From what I've heard, a 10-50 might do it

kirtley2012 wrote:i just gave them a old Billy Fury record no. F 11409 pressed in india, on a blue label decca, thought it would be good for....oh....oh no....oh dear.......http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BILLY-FURY-78 ... 1c1da88dea

Well, it is "very very rare"!

Initially I thought this ad was tragic. Here I am combing through local ads looking for discs to add to my budding collection and suddenly I come across someone who wants to acquire mass amounts to destroy. Now the ad has just become bizarre as a premium will be paid for discs with pictures of 'bad people'. Maybe some weird attempt to find valuable records?

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/wan/3659308044.html

I once got a lead on a "mine of 78s" that a local record store had. The word "mine" was quite apt. I was led into a very dank basement via an unstable step ladder. I was then presented with about 15 boxes filled with pristine 78s. Every single disc was a Glenn Miller Bluebird. A substitute for clay pigeons? Nah. Cannon fodder!
Is there a thread for interesting/funny record hunting trips?

Torjazzer wrote:I once got a lead on a "mine of 78s" that a local record store had. The word "mine" was quite apt. I was led into a very dank basement via an unstable step ladder. I was then presented with about 15 boxes filled with pristine 78s. Every single disc was a Glenn Miller Bluebird. A substitute for clay pigeons? Nah. Cannon fodder!

You're kidding, aren't you? Please say "yes." It's too early in the morning for jokes like this.

Tragic? Bizarre? Ridiculous?
Anyone have any cranks to give to these guys to make coat racks out of?

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/atq/3692680074.html

Since they are now suddenly looking for everything phonograph related I would not be surprised if this really wasn't some strange scheme to get records and parts in bulk cheaply in order to resale on eBay.
Andreas

alang wrote:Since they are now suddenly looking for everything phonograph related I would not be surprised if this really wasn't some strange scheme to get records and parts in bulk cheaply in order to resale on eBay.
Andreas

I think you may be right. There are additional equally long winded strange ads popping up locally.
Dee

ok i have had enough of these crazy people that have the potential to destroy hundreds if not thousands of recordings. i have went to antique shops here in nw indiana for many years and over the past several years there have been very few if any 78 r.p.m. records for sale. i am not sure if these people are really using them for target practice or not. you would be lucky to find some 1950s records in a over priced album.

it makes me sick that these people can destroy some nice edison or some good orthophonics.

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/atq/3695433563.html

Victrolacollector wrote:ok i have had enough of these crazy people that have the potential to destroy hundreds if not thousands of recordings. i have went to antique shops here in nw indiana for many years and over the past several years there have been very few if any 78 r.p.m. records for sale. i am not sure if these people are really using them for target practice or not. you would be lucky to find some 1950s records in a over priced album.

it makes me sick that these people can destroy some nice edison or some good orthophonics.

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/atq/3695433563.html

Well, you're probably having trouble finding 78s for sale in antique stores because the last mass produced US 78 was made 53 years ago (I'm being generous when I say "mass produced,") and the ones you specifically mentioned haven't been made in well over 70 years. Add modern online retail sites where sellers routinely get 10x more for their product, combined with the average seller becoming more aware of value... and that pretty much explains why you're not finding them in junk / antique stores anymore.

Besides, the golden age of collecting 78s from junk stores at a decent price ended more than 30 years ago. Heck, when I started in the late '80s and early '90s, they were already starting to dry up to almost nothing.

As for saying these "crazy people" are "making you sick?" Yes... people who do not value what you collect are crazy, and you should let it annoy you to the point that it destroys your quality of life.


In short, calm down. There were literally millions of 78s made, and you can't save them all.

Regarding the person from Chicago who is posting all these ads? He's probably having a good laugh at all this ridiculous hubbub. I know I am.