The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have cylinders that are intact, but have a chunk missing out of then, piece missing, etc. Long gone. I usually just throw away cylinders in a million pieces if they're moldy or crumbling apart.

What should I do with these cylinders?

I just threw away about a dozen like that. I didn't feel that I should have to be the life-long custodian of cylinders that nobody else wants. (Assuming of course, that nobody else wanted them. ) I did, however, play the remaining portions of the records for one last time, just to give them one final voice.

Judging by the recent Gfell auction, and countless other auctions I've attended in the last 40 years or so, I've come to the conclusion that nearly every cylinder record ever made, still exists. That's far from true, of course, but it sure seems that way. Enough to conclude that most cylinders, including the broken ones I threw away, are not rare.

You're likely right Jerry.

I'll probably keep the boxes of broken ones though, they're pretty cool on their own.