How to know if it is a pre 1935 Record

[geedub]

I have been told my VV-111 should only use pre-1935 records - How do I know which records are pre-1935. Do they have a different look or do I have to look up the artist and match up that way?

Thanks

[OrthoFan]

The year 1935 is not really a hard and fast cutoff year for playing older 78s on an acoustic (pre-1925) Victrola. Some pre-1935 records, such as early Blue Bird label records (made by RCA Victor) wear very quickly on an older style Victrola.

In any event, many recording companies began using a "run-in" groove that was pressed in the outer rim of the records during the mid/late-1930s, so that's always a good clue.


If you're just starting to collect records, you'll probably find this site of use -- http://www.78discography.com/ It provides recording dates for some of the most common labels. Keep in mind, though, some records were pressed for years after their initial release, while the release of others was delayed.

This page presents a nice assortment of 78 rmp record labels from a variety of companies -- common as well as uncommon. It should give you an idea of the types of label designs used in various periods from the early 20th century through the 1950s -- http://www.majesticrecord.com/labels.htm


HTH,
Ortho_Fan

[VintageTechnologies]

I have been told my VV-111 should only use pre-1935 records - How do I know which records are pre-1935.

I think the proper type of records to play on your Victor depend on the kind of reproducer you have. If the reproducer has a mica diaphragm, it is best suited to playing acoustically recorded records which predate the mid 1920's. The later electrically-recorded records had more fidelity and amplitude and could overload the stiff mica diaphragm, causing blasting, distortion, and possibly faster record wear. For electric records, you should use a reproducer that has a concentric corrugated metal diaphragm, like the Victor Orthophonic reproducer. As phonographs evolved from heavy acoustic reproducers to lighter electric pickups, the records themselves were reformulated for the best results. I learned the hard way that playing late 78's on a Victrola will wear them out quickly. 1935 is a very broad cut-off date.