The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello everyone,

Tonight, I had my first true breakage experience with a 78. Some of my warped Glenn Miller Bluebirds fell out of the cabinet while it was open, and this one broke up on landing on the carpet. Granted, I got these for free as they were already warped (but in otherwise spectacular condition!) so I didn't have them stored in sleeves and I wasn't too torn up about it (I can only imagine if one of my jazz records broke like this!). Still, I was frustrated that this did happen.

My question has to do with the stability of 78s. Obviously, they are fragile (I always am careful with my records, and I store virtually all of them vertically and sleeved). But I wonder if they become more succeptible to breaking like what happened tonight if they are warped already?

I would imagine warping would make it more unstable, and that comes from another experience I had. Tonight, the record I broke dropped 16" (I measured from the shelf it fell off of). A year ago, I dropped a Kay Kyser record from my chest height (probably 4 feet) trying to get it out of a torn up Columbia sleeve, and it landed on my big toe! Impressively, no piece broke off, but I can see a line (probably not there before) on the A-side only. Did it hold up better because it wasn't warped? Did my big toe "break the fall?" Or is this something that can only be explained by pure luck/chance?

Thank you for any help you can provide. I try to take the best possible care of my records so they can last longer than me, and though accidents are bound to happen, it bothers me thinking I could ruin something that old just that easily.

The Columbia didn't break because it is laminated with layers of tissue paper under both faces. Look for Columbia New Process records of 1923 or Columbia laminated pressings in Google, or in the record sleeves or catalogues.

Inigo wrote: Wed May 15, 2024 12:34 am The Columbia didn't break because it is laminated with layers of tissue paper under both faces. Look for Columbia New Process records of 1923 or Columbia laminated pressings in Google, or in the record sleeves or catalogues.

Columbias have their own stability issues. When stored in unsuitable conditions they can begin to de-laminate.

In my experience no, warped records are not inherently more prone to breakage. My educated guess is that your record simply got a hit at an angle and in a point "hard enough" to break it, while the other record you mention didn't. However, it also has to be considered that warped records tend to break more because, being not flat, they tend to exert forces when piled or stored in cardboard sleeves or albums. As there are ways to re-flatten them that are very effective, I warmly suggest to take the time and re-flatten them if their content is considered amusing or valuable.

I had a couple of 78s that I got out of my storage room that were both warped AND cracked.edisonplayer.

I saw a guy on youtube stick together two halfs of a cracked 78 with success. it should be called "record cracked in half" or something like that. there are two parts to it and the playing of the record is in the second video. i hope this helps

Thank you to all who replied. I was aware of Columbia's new process of 1923 and their lamination technique, but I didn't realize they were still using it in the '40s. I am a big fan of Columbia pressings -- they almost always are in good condition and sound really nice, even when the surfaces are scratched all over.

I have several more warped Miller Bluebird records which I will try to flatten in my free time hopefully over the summer. They do play on my machine, but for storage purposes, I would rather have them flat. They are fortunately all very common records and were free to me.

As for fixing the two-piece record, I did find the video that phonograph guy3435 had mentioned. I feel inspired now to try and glue the pieces back together. Obviously I will want to spend a lot of time making sure to the best of my ability that the grooves are lined up, but I want to try this nonetheless. I might actually want to flatten these pieces first because this record, after all, was warped to begin with, but I don't know if flattening it first before reattachment is the right order of steps. Either way, if I screw up, I'm not too concerned because it is already broken and a common record to begin with.

Thank you all again for your help and advice.