Your Record Collection

[Ampico66]

I'm curious to know…

1 ) In a brief statement, describe the first few *old* records you acquired that were 78s or cylinders. What type of music were they, how old were they, where did you get them? Many of us were old enough to have had 45s and 33s in your youth because the format was still being sold on the shelves. Vinyl records don't count for this discussion.

2) When did you start acquiring more records and how did you go about it?

3) How do you organize and store your records? Do you have them in good order and cleaned, or are they in random heaps and boxes?

4) How many records do you think you own?

5) Where do you acquire most of your records lately?

6) What do you play them on?

My personal answers:
1) I believe the first 78s I acquired were from local antique shops in the 1990s. They were primarily acoustic records and nothing that was much fun to listen to, except for Paul Whiteman's "Whispering / Japanese Sandman".

2) A friend in New York who is an advanced collector gave me a bunch of good records and taught me about the different labels, ages of the records, how to organize them, and how to acquire more.

3) I try to clean and organize my records. I have about 600 that are cleaned and in new paper sleeves, but organization continues to be a challenge. My latest effort has them sorted by record label, but that does not make it any easier to find a particular disc at any given time as often I can't remember what label that recording was on! I also acquire enough records that cleaning every single disc I bring in has become a challenge. I have too many records that wind up in crates here and there.

4) I own about 3,000 discs, but only 800 or so are actually what I consider to be good records that I would want to keep. The rest are common, poor quality music, 1940s and later, or in very rough condition. I primarily like music from 1925 - 1933. Outside of that, I have Victor records dating back to 1901, my favorite WWII songs, and 78s from the 1950s featuring performers such as Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry, etc.

5) I learned that buying in bulk is a great way to get a lot of good records for very little money. Tonight I acquired about 1,000 for free and took 80 for my own collection. I'm giving the rest away to young people who like "vintage" things and will play them and appreciate them. I refrain from paying over a few dollars for a single record. I like to just see what I can find for little money or free at thrift shops, estate sales, etc. Usually antique store records are overpriced. Often people who know I collect (non-collector friends) tip me off to records and phonographs they find.

6) A friend of mine who collects more modern phonographs has shown me the convenience of using 1950s - 1970s equipment to play 78rpm records, especially with automatic record changers. Having to crank a Victrola and change the needle every time is a lot of effort. I am also running short on my supply of needles. Lastly, modern equipment reproduces a wider range of frequency and is more gentle on the disc itself.

--Damon
St. Louis, MO

[Curt A]

4) I own about 3,000 discs, but only 800 or so are actually what I consider to be good records that I would want to keep. I primarily like music from 1925 - 1933.
-Damon
St. Louis, MO

My sentiments exactly... I primarily like music from 1925 - 1931(3) I have been collecting since age 16 (about 49 yrs) and still focus on that time period. It's the sweet spot for jazz, blues and early country/bluegrass... any later and it gets too "swingy", if that's a word... any earlier and it's baritones and quartets which were apparently Thomas Edison's favorites... (of course, there are exceptions).

[Lucius1958]

1. The first records I 'acquired' (aside from 78s in the family's library) were given to me for my birthday, along with the Amberola 30. These were a bunch of Blue Amberols, covering the gamut from classical (a version of the "Marriage of Figaro" overture, by the Garde Républicaine), through some standard sentimental songs ("M-O-T-H-E-R", for example), light instrumentals, etc., to some ragtime/jazz pieces ("Saxophobia").

2. I started out visiting the antique shop where those first cylinders came from (and where I subsequently bought my first machine with my own money - a VV-IX in oak). It was there I first discovered that there were Victor labels previous to the 'Batwing'. When my brother presented me with a Model A Home (coaxed from the parents of a schoolmate), an acquaintance of my father's, who had a vintage-music column in the local paper, gave me my first 2-minute cylinders.

I soon began combing antique shops for more records, picking out what I thought would be interesting. I found out about MAPS, and from thence I was introduced to mail auctions, and tried my hand at those. I found antique shows (such as Farmington - which later moved to Harwinton, and is now, alas defunct) which had dedicated record dealers. When I finally went online, I had better access to auctions, particularly Nauck's and Hawthorn's; alo I also discovered Craigslist, from which I managed to find a few good machines and records.

I still poke around the shops from time to time, and have found a few rewards....

3. Aside from some organization in my Diamond Disc machines, I'm pretty random. After losing a number of wax cylinders to bad storage, though, I have collected those into plastic containers with tubs of desiccant inside.

4. Derned if I know...

5. I think I've covered that in #2...

6. I generally play them on period-appropriate machines: brown waxes (if any) on the AT; 2-minute cylinders and wax Amberols on the Home; BAs on the Amberola 30; acoustic 78s mostly on the BI; electrics mostly on the P-1; Diamond Discs generally on the C-250. I have been thinking of finding a later electric turntable for playing later or more delicate 78s, though...

-Bill

[Wolseley]

1 ) My first 78 rpm records were purchased in 1969 from a long vanished opportunity shop in Chatswood on Sydney's North Shore. They were a 12"" HMV recording (made at Covent Garden if I recall correctly) of the Death of Boris Godounov by Feodor Chaliapin, a single sided HMV 10" record of O Sole Mio by Enrico Caruso and a 10" Regal recording of I Belong to Glasgow and I'm 94 today by Will Fyffe. They cost 20c each. I initially played them on a small, cheap and not very good record played that had a 78 stylus and a 4 speed turntable. A few months later I bought a Full-o-Tone cabinet gramophone. Just as well, as the motor on the small electric machine eventually gave out - it did have a 78 speed, but it couldn't take the weight of some of the records.

2) It wasn't long before I started looking around more opportunity shops and antique shops and markets. A few years later I branched out into collecting Edison records.

3) My records are cleaned and stored in sleeves, with the cylinders being in their boxes. Some of them are in shelves in cabinet gramophones. The remainder are stored in boxes in the garage.

4) No idea, but I did cull the collection (which did at one stage run to over 3,000) quite drastically a few years ago.

5) I haven't bought many records lately. Most of them I bought over 30 years ago.

6) I play them on the appropriate type of period machine.

[NateO]

1) I discovered this music through youtube. I inially became a fan of 1940’s music, but I followed the suggested videos and found I liked the acoustic era. I decided to start collecting records in 2010 (I was 16), and bought my first Billy Murray 78. Most of my early buys were discs from the 1940s.
2) I started visiting antique shops and mostly local flea markets to find records. They are usually very cheap, and I had a lot of luck finding titles and artists I was looking for.
3) I’m rather lazy when it comes to this. I clean records if they are extremely dirty. I keep my Victor records organized by catalog number, but the rest of the group tends to be mixed together. I really need to invest in sleeves, but I seem to keep buying records instead…
4) I think I own about 600, having recently thinned out discs made after 1930. I own very few made after 1925, since I enjoy the earlier stuff. I have to admit, I actually enjoy the sentimental songs, like “the Old Oaken Bucket”. I seem to own more 78s than I play, so I'm not sure why I keep them. I only own about 15 Gold Moulded cylinders and another 10 Blue Amberols.
5) I tend to avoid buying 78s now, for lack of storage. I still bid in the Nauck auctions, and occasionally buy something at a flea market. I started collecting cylinders last March, so that is what I primarily look for now.
6) Until I bought my first Victrola last December, I used a modern USB turntable, and I still make digital copies of my records. I only use the modern turntable for more delicate records, particularly my pre dog Victors. Otherwise, I use one of my Victrolas or my Edison Standard. I’m hunting for an Amberola now, so I can actually play the Blue Amerols I’ve bought.

[CDBPDX]

1) I acquired my first 78 in about 1994 - it was ABBA-DABBA HONEYMOON. Brought it home to play and it was a very different version (Cliffie Stone) than the one I remembered (Debbie Reynolds). I ended up getting 2 more before I finally got the right copy. It didn't dawn on me that there would be other versions.

2) Once I found out what a treasure trove of music was lying hidden in these old records, I had to see what else there was available. Started off looking for Glenn Miller records and earlier versions of songs popular today. Did you know DREAM A LITTLE DREAM OF ME was written in 1931 and Ozzie Nelson was one of the first folks to sing it?

3) Random heaps, shelves, storage, and boxes

4) 25,000 plus or minus

5) I acquire records anywhere I can, usually in large numbers. I pick out the ones I want and either give the rest away or try to get a few bucks for them on Craigslist. When I get a new bunch of records, I start recording them. Most of the time, I will acquire another new bunch of records and set aside the previous bunch and start recording the newer stuff. I have a ton of set aside records yet to record and am still acquiring new records. There is more quality music on these old 78s than one could possibly imagine, though I'm starting to get an inkling of the vastness of this 'universe' of recordings.

6) I use a Garrard 4HF transcription turntable for recording (see YouTube channel - CDBPDX). For listening pleasure, I have wind up phonographs.

Whew!

Cliff

[epigramophone]

1) My first 78's were given to me in childhood by family members updating to LP. Most were classical dating from the 1930's.

2) I am old enough to have bought 78's new when pocket money permitted, but junk shops were my usual hunting ground.

3) Classical vocal records (the majority of my collection) are listed and stored in artist order. Other records (dance, jazz etc) are not listed but are also stored in artist order. I use period record cabinets and carriers wherever possible. Cylinders are stored by category of repertoire, in their original boxes where they exist. I am always in need of more BA boxes.

4) No idea, but well into four figures.

5) Auctions, flea markets and antiques fairs. The traditional junk shop has all but disappeared in the UK.

6) Always on period machines. I like to hear my records as their original owners heard them.

[alang]

1 ) We had a few 78s at home when I was a kid (back in Germany), but they did not interest me at that time. As a teenager I had LPs and some 45s, mostly Rock'n'Roll, Elvis and Beatles. One time my brother brought home an LP with music from the Comedian Harmonists, a German acapella ensemble in the style of the Revelers. I liked that music and started to go to flea markets to look for 78s. I bought many popular vocals, some jazz and swing. Gramophones and phonographs were quite rare in Germany at that time, at least I could not find anything authentic within my means.

2) After I moved to the US I had my records stored for several years, until my wife found a phonograph at an auction. I fixed it up and started looking around a bit and was astonished how plentiful and cheap both machines and records were around here. I started buying more machines and mostly box lots of records. This was about 5 years ago.

3) I usually clean the records after I buy them, even though I have been slacking a bit lately. Records are stored in shelves, boxes, record cabinets and upright phonographs. I am more interested in machines, my records are just for playing on those. Therefore I only sort roughly in groups of "I like", "Interesting", and "Don't like".

4) I think I have about 2000 78s, a couple hundred DDs and about 400 cylinders.

5) Mostly at phonograph shows like Wayne, here on the forum or sometimes on eBay or Craigslist.

6) I just recently started digitizing my records, so I can listen to them in the car. When I listen to them at home I play them on period machines.

Andreas

[Damfino59]

1. My first vintage record was Moonlight & Roses Victrola #1092-b by John McCormack. It was 1969 and I was looking for vintage music like what my great aunt & uncle had in their victrola cabinet. I was nine years old and paid the sum of fifty cents. I didn't know anything about old records but I assumed it was old as it even stated it was a "Victrola" record by it's label!

2. My father and me would go to the Wheeling Drive In flea market in the early 1970's. Here I would go through piles of old records. I learned to look for records without lead in grooves for the type of music I liked. Popular songs, topical songs about historical events. Prohibition etc. Please remember my parents tolerated this hobby so I had a limit to what I could spend and bring home.

3. I like to have my records cleaned and in sleeves. I have my better records stored in a Ikea unit, vintage cabinets, and the machines themselves. All of my better Edison discs are stored between three phonographs. Cylinders in vintage cabinets and in my Amberola 75. The rest are in milk crates, some organized by label and type of performance.

4. From my estimate maybe 2,000 records, including the cylinders and diamond discs.

5. Where do I get my records? Phonograph shows, specialist dealers, flea markets, antique malls, ebay. I have been still lucky with the malls in finding records. I recently discovered around 70 acoustic personality comic songs at a mall not far from me. I should point out I am more selective and do prefer to pay more for a few items then to buy a large collection. My lower back is not what it used to be!

6. I do rather enjoy playing my records on the acoustic machines. I am quite excited about the new source of stylus for the diamond disc machines. I have a supply of bamboo and thorn needles to reduce record wear when I use my vintage machines. I have a Credenza, HMV 194, and recently a EMG VIII. I have had in the past several more modern turntables such as Duals and Lenco's. Also I have a range of special styluses and a KAB 78 preamp. My current modern turntable is a KAB Technics 1200. Also I have a small collection of mono tube equipment that I like to use. The current setup is a Grommes amp, Rek-O-Kut turntable and Wharfdale speaker in a home built enclosure. I think I may know your friend with the record changers?
That's my story.

Glenn

[CptBob]

1 ) In a brief statement, describe the first few *old* records you acquired that were 78s or cylinders. What type of music were they, how old were they, where did you get them?

My dad had a gramophone - but my mum threw it out along with all his records when he died. I was sixteen at the time. When my mum died there were a few (less than ten) 78s in her house, but I think they were ones that came from my grandmother's house. When I got a gramophone, I found that these were all very badly worn and virtually unplayable.

Ignoring those, which weren't really mine, the first 78s I bought were about three years ago at a vide grenier in France. I spotted a damp box with about 40 78s in it and said done at the asking price of 4 euros. I didn't have a record player or gramophone at the time but I had been looking for one and thought it would only be a matter of time. I put them upstairs and it turned out that there were some gems in the box. Many of them were covered with large envolopes addressed to the Mayor of village in the Lot (46). Amongst these records were quite a few German dance records on the Telefunken label dating from 1942.

2) When did you start acquiring more records and how did you go about it?

The next records I got came with my first gramophone which I bought in May 2012 at another vide grenier. It was a French model HMV101 and it came with a batch of records.

3) How do you organize and store your records? Do you have them in good order and cleaned, or are they in random heaps and boxes?

Shelves would be good. My house in the UK is far too small for the hobby, so most of my records are in France. I haven't got round to putting up shelves there. The records are sorted into categories and put in boxes - I've got 3 boxes of dance bands, 2 of bal musette, 1 of instrumental, a few of English folk music, 1 of French trad - and tons of brass bands and vocal. They're all in one of the bedrooms in France. I've got a similar system in the UK, but they're in the attic. I'd like to get some IKEA shelving and put in the back bedroom which needs a jolly good sort out. These have mainly been catalogued.

Then there's the boxes of records that haven't been sorted out. I've got three big boxes of mainly 12" ones in the dining room. These are a source of irritation to my dearly beloved.

When I wasn't working I cleaned most of the records I bought - especially the ones that were filthy and left dirt on my hands when touching them or just smelt bad. I've got a backlog of cleaning to be done.

4) How many records do you think you own?

I've got over 900 10" records in my excel catalogue - but I can see a couple of hundred from where I'm sitting, so don't know is the correct answer.

5) Where do you acquire most of your records lately?
Job lots on Ebay mainly. I pick out what I want and put the rest back on Ebay for 99p and am quite happy for someone else to have them at that price. I always point out that what I'm selling are what's left over from job lots that I've bought. I haven't bought any records for about six months. I'm still working through my last few lots. I have bought from specialist sellers, but I find they are expensive and that the records are no better quality than you get in job lots, so I tend to give them a miss.

6) What do you play them on?
I've got a Lenco GL69 turntable - I know this isn't the best Lenco you can get, but it was fairly affordable when I bought it. It's sitting in the place where my Linn LP12 went. There's absolutely no comparison when playing LPs so the Linn might come back.
I play them on my 101, 102 and Columbia 117a in the UK and on my HMV145 in France.