The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi all,
Because I had mislaid the reproducer to my C-19 in a move some 25 years ago, I have not been able to play it. This week I received a very good condition reproducer with new gaskets etc. and played several records. Two late 51000 series recordings one of fox trots the other Blues each had one side with light spotting that I think may be due to mildew. The sound did not seem affected but I wondered if this might damage the stylus. I know of course that diamond is much much harder then the record material. I am posting this in hopes that one or more people might have first hand experience with this situation.
Thank all of you for reading this and particularly and one responding,
Allen

Allen,

I haven't found that light mildew spots effect the sound of these early records. I understand that on vinyl LPs mildew is a serious problem. I have received records with some evidence of mildew and not really noticed much more than perhaps a bit more surface noise from it. I just cleaned some mildew off some good Victrola records I have stored in my moms basement and the labels and a bit of the surface had begun to develop those spots. I cleaned it with a Mildew treatment that says on the label it can be used for cloth and paper plus furniture ext. So far after it dried thoroughly it looks fine and hopefully will help keep it off, but our part of the country is extremely damp with wet lawns well into the afternoon so stoping dampness is a real problem. I don't have air so it makes it all the harder to maintain. I think your records will be fine and I can't see any reason the stylus shouldn't be fine.

Larry

A Ford 1 wrote:Two late 51000 series recordings one of fox trots the other Blues each had one side with light spotting that I think may be due to mildew. The sound did not seem affected but I wondered if this might damage the stylus.

As mentioned above it's not likely that you damaged the diamond stylus. For what it's worth, anytime I have any sort of surface soiling including mildew I spray good old fashioned Windex on the surface and it cleans and shines the surface the best. I've tried lots of other DD record surface cleaning liquids including that suggested by Edison factory and nothing works like good old Windex. Isopropyl (sp?) alcohol frequently leaves a film on the DD surface but not Windex. Good luck.

Doug

Doug,

Interesting I will have to try the Windex. I have had lousy results with alcohol. I was using the medicinal type rubbing alcohol but was latter told it should be the denatured type. It doesn't dry clear either though.

Larry