The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have 2 gold moulded record sleeves that are a bit larger that most and they have a cardboard "post" in the center. Were they made for the brown wax cylinders? That is what I put in them.

Speaking of brown wax cylinders, why do they look as if they are completely smooth without grooves? I've got 4, they look the same.

No, those boxes are for early Gold Moulded records, like it says on the box. Brown wax records (and very early Gold Moulded records) came wrapped in cotton batting and wax paper inside a thin-walled cardboard tube. The box you have, which allows the record to be supported by the center cardboard, is the second Gold Moulded style. These gave way to the common style with the thick cardboard lined with cotton.

Completely smooth brown wax cylinders are probably shaved blanks.

Thanks, Alan