Custom Records--"Hard" 78s for use on acoustic gramophones

[OrthoFan]

I was aware of the vinyl 78s produced for jukeboxes, but I just saw this, today -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7GFcyshc7Q describing a new hard plastic 78 designed to be played on acoustic gramophones.

Also mentioned on the website -- http://www.customrecords.com/

Shame they're so expensive, but I'd guess it's a very expensive process, since they are one-off records. Perhaps in time the same technology could be used for lot quantities?

Wonder what kind of plastic they use....


OrthoFan

[Wolfe]

$ 295.00 for one single-sided "hard" wind-up gramophone record. $ 125.00 each for duplicates. It could be a vinyl / plastic type record of the sort like V-Discs were. It has the same kind of look.

The record in the video was playing Wanda Jackson at first - don't recognize the second song. Playback sounded a little fuzzy.

[Lucius1958]

I have suggested to this person that the rarest, high-value, early recordings might be a good outlet for their efforts.

Considering the price quoted, that might be their only chance for any trade at all.

Bill

[OrthoFan]

As with many "first efforts," there are some major issues. As noted, the cost is prohibitive for all but the lucky "one percent" of collectors with very deep pockets. As Lucius suggested it could be useful for a collector or museum, etc., to copy an extremely rare or "high value" recording, enabling it to be played back on authentic (vintage) equipment for demonstration/exhibition purposes--or whatever.

Wolfe, I also noted the distortion, which, I guess, could be caused by the microphone recording the video, the record's source material, the condition of the sound box, or the fact that the range of the original recording exceeds the capabilities of most acoustic gramophones--especially when a loud tone needle is used.

OrthoFan

[Victrolacollector]

I like the idea that these are being made for the talking machines, however, like the previous posts have mentioned, these are for those collectors with deep pockets and should be for the more rarer recordings.

I think the price should be less than $100.00 per record and include titles from rare Berliners, Edison Needle Type records, Paramount Jazz, copies of "The Charleston" which seem to be rare.

With new stars it might be nice to have copies of Adele, Justin Bieber and some recent country stars, but I doubt the market would be lucrative enough, despite there are alot of Victrola's.

[billybob62]

Yes, Yes!!!! Justin Bieber. Must have!!!!

[Phonofreak]

I played the video, and it was distorted. The first song was very fast like Alvin & The Chipmunks. The second song was very slow and it sounded like my Uncle Ben with a summer virus. Maybe the portable needed some adjustment with the speed control, governor or anything else. Playing these records on an improperly tuned phonograph is not good advertising at the high cost of these records. Like the other posters says, these would be good for extremely rare recordings like the Gennett record that sold for $35,000 a couple of years ago. If this guy thinks he's going to get that kind of money for the record played in the video, he's dreaming.
Harvey Kravitz

[Wolfe]

W/out comparing directly I think the speed was more or less on. That's how Wanda Jackson sounds :https://youtu.be/ip_rNAASt6I

Echoing other posters, it would be fun if someone were in the business of releasing vinyl 78 records from interesting original masters or shells, regardless of rarity. I'd love to be able to buy a vinyl pressing of something like this : https://youtu.be/4-Y9NcqUHY4

If you talk about a super rare Gennett, you may be talking about having to make a dub of such a record. I wouldn't shell out much money for that, personally. If I wanted it, a good CD transfer would suffice.

It seemed like the phonograph playing the plastic record in the demo video in the first post was mistracking, or... Steel needles and plastic / vinyl don't seem like a good match. But I don't want to open that can of worms.

[OrthoFan]

While I totally agree that the prices are outside of the range of most collectors, it's interesting to note that in some ways, history is repeating itself.

When it was first released in 1908, the Lucia Sextet was priced at $7.00 -- http://edisoneffect.blogspot.com/2007/1 ... -from.html

Factoring in basic inflation, and using one of the many online inflation calculators--which many on this forum have pointed out do not reflect the actual much higher rate--the cost of the record would be at least $189.70 in today's money. See: http://www.westegg.com/inflation/ It could have cost as much as $379.00 in in 2007 dollars, according to the information provided at "edisoneffect.blogspot," though I don't know what index Mr. Stanley used.

I have a couple of Victor grand opera red seal records from this era priced between $4.00 and $6.00 each, or roughly $110.00 to $150.00--or more--in today's money.

OrthoFan