The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

What is the tin on the bottom left's tone?

I think they were made from nickel or some sort of weird metal. If you clean them and don't slowly let them warm up/cool down they sort of "freeze over" and change colors. It's fixable but super weird.

Curt A wrote: Wed Jun 25, 2025 12:18 pm Does anyone know why Japanese and other Asian tins typically have speckled rust spots on them?

Screenshot 2025-06-25 at 12.11.36 PM.png

I'm not EXACTLY sure but I have to imagine it's from oxidation of the steel. All of my Japanese tins have this problem. Some have mold, some have isolated rust splotches. It's odd.

I have 1 extra loud tone tin and 3 different sized half tone tins. All Victor of Japan, one has a paper & aluminum liner on the inside of the tin.

Curt A wrote: Wed Jun 25, 2025 12:18 pm Does anyone know why Japanese and other Asian tins typically have speckled rust spots on them?

Screenshot 2025-06-25 at 12.11.36 PM.png

Perhaps it is to do with climate.

The humidity in many areas of Japan can be very high, especially during monsoon season.

I lived in a relatively rural prefecture, one famous for its rice, up in the north-west corner of Honshu, the main island. My 2DK flat ( https://e-housing.jp/post/1k-1ldk-2dk-a ... n-in-japan ) needed chemical dehumidifiers everywhere. There were racks outside the building where one could hang one's bedding (duvet and futon) out on sunny days to prevent the growth of mould. On drier sunny days every window and door was wide open to allow air flow.

One of the benefits of all the water and humidity was a seasonal abundace of very cool (and noisy) frogs and the most amazing profusion of stunningly beautiful dragon flies in a seemingly infinite variety of sizes, colours, and iridescence, more sepcies than I have ever seen anywhere else.

Anyway, ferrous metals and high humidity ....

Niigata prefecture

m_nakamura wrote: Thu Feb 05, 2026 11:17 am Niigata prefecture

Two prefectures more northward, I believe.

Lah Ca wrote: Thu Feb 05, 2026 1:40 pm

m_nakamura wrote: Thu Feb 05, 2026 11:17 am Niigata prefecture

Two prefectures more northward, I believe.

Aww