The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

On Sunday I went to one of my local swap meets (Tis the season!) and I had one of the best days for that particular swap meet in a long time!

I got a Herzog cabinet full of cylinders this one seller who I see there that I get antique phono related stuff for she’s been saying for the last almost 2 years that she had a cabinet full of records she would sell me: and this time she actually brought it! I had to buy a radio flyer wagon just to haul the cabinet and records!

The records were mostly blue amberols, with some 2 minute wax, some everlasting titles, and even a couple wax amberols were in there (including the 6th title released on WA) and even a celluloid copy of Electrophone’s Edison Advertising Record (which sounds better than that very early electrohome wax copy of that record I bought a couple years ago.)

And not only that, I actually for the VERY first time in my 6 years of cylinder collecting got a couple of BROWN WAX titles. Yes they were later Columbia molded brown wax titles, not exactly the oldest records I have but as for cylinders, these are certainly the oldest I have so far!

And another first for me for cylinders: I finally got an original Edison blank! But I’m not sure if I want to record on it because the mold on this blank won’t do any favors for my cutting stylus…

And it wasn’t just that seller because I came across a lot of 78s! (Dating from about 1905-1913 mostly) And I paid $20 for the whole lot!

Now as many of us who would consider themselves seasoned collectors, I could immediately tell the original owners of these records were owners of a Standard Disc machine, not only due to the Standard titles there, but bigger label titles all had their spindle holes enlarged to fit the Standard’s enlarged spindle. (I’m glad i have my Standard X just in case I come across lots of 78s with these modifications. But the mica diaphragm is starting to buzz on that machine so the long throat soundbox on that machine needs a rebuild with new mica and gaskets but that’s a topic for a Yankee Trader post)

I have also found my Fifth Victor 8-inch title but still no 7 inch victors, BUT I did get 4 7 inch Oxford titles in the bunch!

Unfortunately 8 of the titles were cracked or broken I’ll include those in the photographs too.

So yesterday was just one of those once in a few year amazing days where the stars and planets all lined up for me!

The only non record related things I purchased was a GE Exposure meter and camera bag. I was out of money REAL QUICK. I missed out on a milk crate full of Jam Handy films from the 1950s!

And now, photos of the 78s I got! I’m currently in the process of cleaning them, so some of them are a little “barn fresh”

A nice haul and a greater value.
You have to love when that happens!

James.

That's a nice group of records you've scored there. You'll have a lot of fun listening to them all and will no doubt discover some new favorites among them.
I notice your Edison blank appears to be for 4 min recordings, so unless you've got a 4 min recorder you probably wouldn't be using it to record on anyway.
I think it's always nice to have an example of the various cylinder types, and it makes a collection that little bit more interesting.
In my limited experience, 4 min blanks seem to turn up far less often than their 2 min counterparts.

Congratulations and enjoy.

gramophoneshane wrote: Tue Apr 12, 2022 5:00 am That's a nice group of records you've scored there. You'll have a lot of fun listening to them all and will no doubt discover some new favorites among them.
I notice your Edison blank appears to be for 4 min recordings, so unless you've got a 4 min recorder you probably wouldn't be using it to record on anyway.
I think it's always nice to have an example of the various cylinder types, and it makes a collection that little bit more interesting.
In my limited experience, 4 min blanks seem to turn up far less often than their 2 min counterparts.

Congratulations and enjoy.

Hey thanks Shane! I’ll hopefully get a 4 minute recorder someday!

I'm very happy for you!

These days, going to a sawp meet and finding nothing is a victory for me!

Another first from this lot. My first cylinder with 2 tracks on it!

I've had very good luck shaving moldy blanks with a 1940's Ediphone shaver. In one or two passes it leaves a pristine mirror-like surface. And best of all, (Scotchman that I am) few people seem interested in 1940's office equipment so the investment is small.
-Dave

Congratulations and nice haul! My wife has a saying that you have to hit 99 yard sales/estate sales/thrift stores before you get that really cool find at the 100th one. I've lost count, but think I am overdue...

Frisco The Beagle wrote: Sat Apr 16, 2022 2:06 pm Congratulations and nice haul! My wife has a saying that you have to hit 99 yard sales/estate sales/thrift stores before you get that really cool find at the 100th one. I've lost count, but think I am overdue...

I was well due for that!