The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

After reading the post about people playing the wrong records on the wrong machines, I'm hoping people can educate me on this. I just bought my first phonograph, a Victor III, it's just being shipped to me. What records can I play on it? Does it have to be a Victor label? Any other info would be appreciated, so that I don't make the mistake of ruining good records.

Congrats on your first machine. If you do a forum search.....you will find many threads that discuss all these issues.

Congrats! very good first purchase.dont play -Pathé- edison.

78s to play-columbia- victor -brunswick theres to many to list here but research is youre friend.enjoy youre player...

Thanks for the info.

Photoj wrote:After reading the post about people playing the wrong records on the wrong machines, I'm hoping people can educate me on this. I just bought my first phonograph, a Victor III, it's just being shipped to me. What records can I play on it? Does it have to be a Victor label? Any other info would be appreciated, so that I don't make the mistake of ruining good records.

Aside from not playing Edison and Pathé records (or anything vinyl), basically any shellac records outside the acoustic era (from the electrical era) are recordings not best suited for your machine.

Good to know, now my next question is how do you tell the difference between acoustic and electric era records.

What records can I play on it? and... how do you tell the difference between acoustic and electric era records?

Basically, you are looking for acoustic era lateral records.

I don't think there's a simple to answer to such a simple question, however this website may be of some help in identifying 78 labels and when they were produced. Victor made the III from 1901-1926 so most acoustic lateral recordings made 1926 and earlier would play just fine. You can play later records, but those made after about 1926 were electrically recorded and may "blast" on your older machine with a mica diaphragm Exhibition reproducer.

(without splitting hairs on exact dates, 1925 and 1926 were transition years to electrical recording for most record companies)

Make sure your reproducer (the sound box, or head) is adjusted properly. It should have new soft white rubber (not plastic tubing as some reproduction reproducers have)gaskets. Old rock hard gaskets will not sound good, and it will ruin records, as it is not able to piston the diaphragm to the sound waves. You want the adjustment on the balance springs should be medium, compliance and the diaphragm profile should not be pushed in or pulled out by the stylus bar, but flat across its profile, there should be no buzz from the springs or the nuts and screws. You should purchase new steel needles, they are changed after every play. The steel needle complies to the groove of each individual record, and if it is used again will put undue wear on the next record.

Congratulations on the Victor III. That was my recommendation. The fastest education for dating labels that I know of is this: http://www.tedstaunton.com/site_map/site_map.html

Have fun!