The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I just did a run to my favorite thrift shop, the only one in town that consistently has 78s. I was wary of one of the albums I got, because the discs look so much like vinyl, and have multiple tracks like vinyl... When I put one on, I realized that they only look odd because I'm so used to seeing old, beat-up discs. These are what I think is called "near mint"! They are so shiny and new looking, and the music is extremely loud and clear. I don't think they ave ever been played, because the groove changed ever so slightly in appearance as it was played (but not the "this record is getting shredded" kind of change).

Of course, it is an album of music selections for elementary schoolers, but the song excerpts are not bad at all. Elementary schoolers had decent taste in 1947, I guess.

Yes, when 78 were new they were shiny new! Many people have only seen them beaten up and assume that is as good as it gets. Also, if their experience is only in hearing crunchy sound from a victrola, well then, that's how they must sound. This has shed a new reality for you the look for and hear!

"I don't think they ave ever been played, because the groove changed ever so slightly in appearance"
I assume that your were looking closely at it as it played. If you had not cleaned the record, then you may have only seen the difference as the film of age has been played off of it.

James.

I had cleaned them already. I actually was going to give them just a quick once-over with the disk duster but they came out of it looking even worse, so I'm like, Okay, let me get a paper towel wet...

Some of the first "decent" to "new" shellac 78's I encountered were found in a Volunteers of America thrift store in Wilkes-Barre, PA while in college.

A couple of albums full of religious titles - LOTS of "goodies" by Homer Rodeheaver...


Even if the material wasn't thrilling, I bought them because of their outstanding condition, and I was literally blown-away by how clean and "bright" they sounded.


Amazing what a decent record with a fresh needle can sound like, eh ?

I re-read your post and you say the record is from 1947. The record materials use 40's were changing. Some records are not suited for heavy tone arms and will damage the surface. What phonograph are you using to play it with?

James.

I played one record with my VV 8-12. I had kinda thought the same; the records are rather more flexible than typical shellac, though still quite thick and rigid. I have not played any other discs for wanting to preserve their condition.

There are vinyl 78s and these as mentioned above were not intended to be played with a heavy reproducer and a steel needle. These can be pop recordings but also very commonly classical - especially in translucent red.

When you first mentioned multiple bands I thought possibly you were looking at 10" LPs. There are however 78s with multiple bands for sound effects, educational use, music study, industrial use and early EPs with tigher groove spacing allowing 2 songs on one side. There are also earlier flexible recordings that were intended to be played with a steel needle...

Good Luck!

In this case, the reason for multiple tracks being present is that there are no full songs. Each disc, save for one side of one disc, is comprised of excerpts of different songs. They were meant to be played as samples for elementary schoolers. Probably a tool for the school music instructor.

After having played them all through and inspected the needles each time, finding them clean, I think I can safely say that they are shellac.

If you can post a pic I might be able to tell you more about the records.

When it comes to finding clean 78s, just be patient. When I first started collecting I had many worn records and like many other collectors and I thought that's just how records sounded. Later I started finding better once once in awhile. Over the years I got pickier and the norm became the very clean record - even New Old Stock. Listening to really clean records with rebuilt reproducers or magnetic pickups and serviced tube amps still amazes me - but it has also become the norm.

One cool thing as that as you keep looking you will often find clean records in groups because the owner took good care of them or stopped listening to them early on. A couple of years ago I bought a collection that had been packed up in Kansas City, MO in August of 1929 (from lots of newspaper and other paperwork all from that week in 1929) and seemingly never listened to again until I went though and cleaned them up! - They were almost all electric recording - and lots of great selections!