The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Where can I find an exact ingredients list (both identity and quantity) for early Victor shellac records?

Thanks in advance!

Probably nowhere, but if you do find out, please let us know! This was closely guarded proprietary information. I doubt that a patent was filed, for if so we'd all have the answer. But it's easy enough to google for the info. All I've ever seen is a general listing with no quantitative specificity or definitive ingredients list. Try using the search feature on this site.

My take is that there is no such thing as a single formula. Comparing the surfaces of the discs over the period 1900-1915, we notice a lot of changes, visual and aural, meaning that the composition of the discs was being revised and modified through this period. It kind of got more stable later, but even then it had to undergo more changes to face competition (e.g. when Columbia started to produce quieter laminated surfaces) and to cope with the demands of the electrical recording. Their alchemists were kept busy.

RJ Wakeman's article may be of use to this discussion : http://www.antiquephono.org/the-origin- ... j-wakeman/


I also think that trying to determine a consistent, exact breakdown of an "early" Victor shellac formula is a trip down the rabbit hole. Unless someone does find a dusty paper somewhere.

It seems like the early Columbia's were made out of some type of harder material..Rubber?

Victrolacollector wrote:It seems like the early Columbia's were made out of some type of harder material..Rubber?

The only rubber records I've ever heard of were the very early Berliners.

Bill