Ground in Dirt in 78's

[Edisonfan]

Ever since, I started to collect 78's. The bulk of of my collection, has been "Victor" records. Oh sure I have a few other labels, but they have been mostly the victor label. Also, being fairly close to New Jersey, kind of helps too. The one thing I have noticed, with collecting 78's, I have never had a single problem with the victor records. Where as, I have with other labels. I have put a record say Puritan on, and it would stop the machine, and then I would lift off the reproducer, and the turntable would start to spin again. My explaination for this would be, ground in dirt in the grooves. I have not encountered this problem with any of my victor records. At least not yet? (fingers crossed).

Anyone else have this problem? I know distilled water, and some mild dish soap might help. I also heard, useing a cheap face peal would do the tirck as well.

Paul

[bart1927]

The reason could be dirt in the grooves, but also the weight of the record itself. I noticed that my Columbia portable can easily play 2 sides of a Victor record on 1 wind, but with heavier records (Columbia, Imperial, Harmony) I have to rewind after one side. If cleaning doesn´t help maybe a smaller stylus can reduce the friction (soft tone instead of medium). One collector showed me another trick: he rubbed some Pledge (furniture polish) on the record. But I´m not going to do that. I spend a lot of time to clean my records, so I´m not gonna put sticky stuff on them again!

[Edisonfan]

Thank You Bart!

Paul

[MordEth]

One collector showed me another trick: he rubbed some Pledge (furniture polish) on the record. But I´m not going to do that.

I am by no means an expert, but I think I would be very hesitant to do this to any record—there have got to be better ways to clean them than furniture polish, especially since it would leave a residue on the record itself.

I’ve seen Pledge (linked to their site) used on enough furniture, and I think there are better products for that purpose, as well.

Does anyone have any better cleaning tips that Edisonfan (and other collectors) might take use?

— MordEth

[Shane]

Paul's observations are correct. I've had a Victrolita (aka Victrola 1-1) for a number of years. It's a "problem" machine in that the motor lacks power, and after having three different phonograph service people go through it, the thing still doesn't work worth a darn. Strangely, I have noticed that it plays most Victor records just fine, especially batwing labels. Throw another brand of record on it, and it will grind to a halt in about 3 rotations. I wonder if Victor used a less friction-inducing surface versus other brands.

[larryh]

My guess is that the surface of the Victors and some other eras of the others were harder. I think those Banner Columbia's and perhaps even early victors were prone to dragging when they became somewhat worn. I have Columbia's I have mention in the old group that stop the machines, even with a good spring. The needle is cutting into the record due to something either wear or humidity effecting the surfaces. There was some sense that wasn't the case, but I am reasonably sure it is. I recently found a rather early blues type orthophonic out here and it looked quite dull. When I tried it on the Credenza it also came to a halt. In fact it even stopped my electric turntable! So it has to be the record surface. Dirt I am not sure is the issue.

[Edisonfan]

So it's the records themselsves, that are causeing the machine to slow down? Larry

Paul

[estott]

Could be the records. Cheaper discs like Puritan, Cameo, Banner, Grey Gull, were pressed in a cheaper grade of shellac which doesn't stand up as well. They weren't really intended to- you bought a cheap record to get the latest dance tune.

[Edisonfan]

That would explain why two of my Zon-O-Phone records, slowed down the machine.

[larryh]

If your machine is playing other records without issue then the record is the only variable you have. Now an then a record will do this, most are noticeably dull (worn). Others seem to be due to as mentioned poor quality surface ingredients that just are too porous and place a drag on the needle. I find it worse with soft tone needles that are very thin and can easily dig in so to speak. Often a loud tone needle will play some records that a soft won't, but then some just won't.