The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

We are almost done sorting dad's collection of blue amberols and will be starting black wax amberols next. I've read the early ones can have some value. Does that mean low numbers or trying to figure out when they were made?

After that we'll start the gold moulded. Any tips for what to be on the lookout for with them?

Thanks

The MAIN thing that determines any record/cylinder value is the title and artist followed by condition. Don't ask which titles, since you're not likely to just find them in a random pile. Also, just because a record is in good condition doesn't make it valuable.

Many, record collectors have specific interests that vary by genre. It takes years to determine which titles generate the most value and interest.

As for black Amberols, they are not considered to be desirable by MOST collectors, because of their extreme fragility due to a faulty wax formula, but there are exceptions. They are subject to breakage by temperature changes, handling or just plain temperment. Personally, i would never buy an expensive one, since survival is a crap shoot, not worth taking.

Curt A wrote: Fri Oct 17, 2025 6:58 pm The MAIN thing that determines any record/cylinder value is the title and artist followed by condition. Don't ask which titles, since you're not likely to just find them in a random pile. Also, just because a record is in good condition doesn't make it valuable.

Many, record collectors have specific interests that vary by genre. It takes years to determine which titles generate the most value and interest.

As for black Amberols, they are not considered to be desirable by MOST collectors, because of their extreme fragility due to a faulty wax formula, but there are exceptions. They are subject to breakage by temperature changes, handling or just plain temperment. Personally, i would never buy an expensive one, since survival is a crap shoot, not worth taking.

Since we already have the records, the goal is to avoid selling things that are valuable as part of bulk lots. As we create the inventory, we know what titles we like. But it was dad's collection and business inventory, so I want to make sure we either keep the good things or get them to people that appreciate them.

I have a couple of wax Amberols by Sophie Tucker, one of which is "Some Of These Days",but I seldom play them.I do have a nice reproduction of the latter title, which I play more often.edisonplayer.

edisonplayer wrote: Sat Oct 18, 2025 8:14 am I have a couple of wax Amberols by Sophie Tucker, one of which is "Some Of These Days",but I seldom play them.I do have a nice reproduction of the latter title, which I play more often.edisonplayer.

I'm guessing there are about 3000 cylinders in the house made up of dad's personal collection, tested and categorized inventory, and untested, uncategorized inventory. Dad played what he enjoyed. He didn't like opera, so I'm guessing we won't find any in his collection, if he found them they'd go in inventory.

But dad's inventory is undocumented. (Heck, so is his personal collection) So my first task is figuring out what's there, so that I can get rid of the common stuff in bulk. I'd like to save the more valuable ones and more well known titles to keep with his personal collection, so that they can eventually get played and decide if we would ever play them again.

I started with the blue amberols since there were fewest of them and I knew that numbers over 5000 could have some value. Once the inventory is complete, I will pull out the ones for further attention and sell the rest in bulk. We're getting close on blue amberols.

I'll take any advice on what to hold out and not add to the bulk pile for the black wax.