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Heard that there are Berliner Discs being reproduced. Is there any truth to this and if it is are they easily distinguished from the originals?
Many thanks in advance for your responses

They have been around now for a few years and I am not aware of any confusion regarding their type.
The top side is very authentic and almost indistinguishable from the original counterparts. But the flipside looks very much different, usually glossy with several bubbles from the poured material. They also feel different (warmer) because the plastic is not such a good heat conductor. And not all of them are playable with steel needles. Several of them just work fine as a turntable cover for display, which I think is a real nice idea. I don't like to have dust settle on my records just for the sake of a machine's appearance.

Thank you for your valued response. Given that some of the records are quite valuable this is a concern

So it appears that some are playable with a steel needle?

The lighter colored one is playable with a steel needle to a certain degree but has its issues. It's more a test item for me rather than a real record replacement. There are several areas with tiny bubbles over the groove area, that cause lots of noise. You can play them all on a modern turntable but again with most of these audible issues. So, after all I appreciate them mostly for their appearance and use as a cover.

I don't see a big problem with these being sold as originals as you still can distinguish them well enough. And by now I am not aware of even any attempts by anyone.

The real problem I currently see are re-recorded brown wax cylinders. These are much more vulnerable to be sold as originals and one needs lots of knowledge and experience to separate the wheat from the chaff.

Interesting, I didn’t know there were repro Berliner Discs around. Are these being made now or were they produced in the past as an anniversary souvenir or something?

These are being made now.

Sean

[quote="WDC"]

I don't see a big problem with these being sold as originals as you still can distinguish them well enough. And by now I am not aware of even any attempts by anyone.


I would have to agree with "WDC". A seasoned Berliner collector would have no trouble distinguishing these "copy's" from originals.
The only "pitfall" is an Ebay seller could try and pass them off as originals. However, even then and once in the hands of the knowledgeable buyer.... Their selling days would come to an abrupt end.
Like anything (regarding reproduction), If one does their homework..... usually helps stop a potential bad buy.

this would be a concern for me as I am totally blind.
if i can't play it with a steal needle i'll soon know, though
and if i can i'm not that bothered.

More than 20 years ago I made a Polyurethane copy of my then only Berliner disc, using a two part silicone mold. It looked identical and had the same weight, because I mixed the PU with marble flour. Unfortunately, the heavy straight arm of my gramophone caused too much friction of the steel needle, and the motor was too weak to pull the disc through. Soon, I gave up my experiments.