The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Was trying to make some sense of the records I have unintentionally accumulated over the years, prob well over 100 Edison DD's and countless Victors. My query is I came across a light blue cylinder record in an Edison container which has 4M 3364 Campbell & Burr and the Pat.date. First time I ran across such a cylinder. Looks in wonderful condition. Any info on this thing. Thanks

Bill K

That is an Indestructible cylinder.They used blue celluloid also.edisonplayer

Thanks appreciate it. Someday I will be able to distinguish between 2min and 4 min cylinders by looking at them. At least this one has 4M on it...


Bill K

Here's a photo from one of the articles on the APS website, Basic Antique Phonograph Operational Tips:

http://www.antiquephono.org/basic-antiq ... onal-tips/
These are all 4-minute celluloid. As it says in the original caption, Indestructibles are on the left, Edisons are on the right.

George P.

Thanks for the info and the link. I joined the APS last year great info. Cheers

Bill K

The Indestructible record company received an order of light blue dye by mistake, instead of returning the order and exchanging it for black dye they just used it, hence why you sometimes find light blue Indestructible cylinders.

-Steve

George, I'm just curious. Do you have any idea if the third Indestructible cylinder from the left in the above picture is grey (as it appears to be to me), or just a lighter shade of blue? I've never run into what looks like a grey Indestructible before --- although I have seen many black ones and several different shades of blue. According to Nauck and Suttons "Indestructible and U-S Everlasting Cylinders" (@2011, p. 43), Indestructible cylinders in black are common, light blue are less common, and light-green pressings are very rare. If anyone has a spare light-green Indestructible for sale or trade, please contact me.

Thanks,
Bob

Bob,

That cylinder is battleship grey - just the way it looks in the photo. I have a few of them and the light blue versions, but I've never even seen the green variety.

George P.

George,

Thanks for the reply! Now I have to find a grey one as well as the green variety!!! Without you going to the trouble of digging them out from their hiding places, do you remember if your grey Indestructibles are 2-minute or 4-minute cylinders? Does anyone here have access to a green Indestructible to let us know if it is 2- minute or 4-minute? Strange that Nauck and Sutton don't mention the grey variety?!? The only green Indestructible I've seen is pictured in the aforementioned book.

Bob

There are three light grey Indestructibles here, and they're all 2 minute.

There are four blue ones, in shades of robin's egg blue (shown above), medium blue, and a pair of storm-cloud blue that could be called a dark grey. All four of the blue Indestructibles are 4 minute.

George P.