The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I bought a large lot of 78's recently. Included were several Phono-Cut records. I understand these to be amongst the very first vertically cut/ Hill & Dale records pressed here in the US. The labels say they should be only played on a machine that uses a sapphire stylus.

There is very little online about the history of them. They were made in Boston, and from what I have read, are not that common. Please note, I did NOT use the dreaded "rare" descriptive.

What I have yet to find out is this- what phonographs will play these records? I'd like to put them up on the Marketplace, but only if there is indeed a market for them, and if someone could use them. But for starters, knowing what they are compatible with would be a great start.

Thanks!

They'll play on any machine that plays Pathé vertical cut records, so they'll play on a Pathé machine, any off brand that has either a rotating soundbox and arm, or seperate soundboxes that can be changed to play vertical and lateral recording, so brands like Cheney, Sonora, and 100 others.
They can also be played on a lateral Victrola or Victor type machine with one of several adaptors that could be used with that type of tonearm.
Most pre orthophonic era Brunswick's will also play sapphire vertical cut records.

Great, thank you! I only have a Victrola, that will play lateral cut. So it makes sense for me to move them. Do collectors seek these types of discs?

Yes definitely. As I said previously, they're far more interesting than common old Caruso's.
I guess the hard part will be determining a price, as a lot of people don't want to pay eBay prices
Perhaps you could use them as an opportunity to acquire some discs you do want?
You can always offer them in the Yankee trader section as a swap for "over there" or some other titles you're after.

I love Caruso, and have never found him "uninteresting". The gear to me is secondary. But I will list what I have, and see what the market has to bear. I would never, ever sell tem on eBay, so looks like the marketplace here is the way to go.

I like Caruso too. I've got dozens of his records, but they are common. All but his very earliest pressings anyway.
They sold in huge numbers around the world, and were re-recorded and reissued many times after his death.
I think Elvis Presley and Bing Crosby are good too, and like Caruso, their popularity meant big record sales.

But I listen to music, and am not in the hobby as a collecting competition, or for bragging rights. You have to recognize the fact that different people are motivated by reasons different from yours.

After 40 yrs of collecting I'm well aware that people collect for different reasons.
Some collect for investment or profit, some just to enjoy listening to them, some won't pay more than a dollar and others pay $100 for something they want, and some treat them like the holy grail and won't play them, while others don't care if they wear out a $100 disc because they enjoy them.
And yes, I guess some do collect for bragging rights too.
But no matter what your reasons, a common record is a common record.
I like common records myself because when I find one I really enjoy, I can buy several copies of it cheap, then play the record to death without fear of wearing it out on an accoustic machine and if I do I have another 1 or 2 copies in reserve.

I listen to music for the enjoyment of it, not the science of it. Nor do I simply discard music for being "common".