Enjoyed your presentation. I need a guide on how to STOP collecting 78s! I've passed the 2000 mark specialising in 20s dance bands and composer-conducted Classical recordings. As a collector in UK, I would say American buyers have a much greater range of labels to collect, many that were not exported in any quantity. A lot of HMV label discs issued in UK were re-pressings of USA recordings.
There is a record store where I live that people are always bringing in 78s to sell. But they don't sell them so the people just usually leave them. Bill and Judy who own the store give them to me. I have a collection of over 500 received free and some dating back to the late 1890s. Some wonderful old music and comedy to be sure! Thanks for your cool video!
Dennis! That is awesome! Sound like great people. Record store owners helping music lovers connect with the records that will trip their trigger - and giving them away for free. Fantastic! Thanks for watching and commenting. Skol! Jeff
Being an elvis fan,I started collecting his 78s,but then the 40s big band stuff came next and now Al Jolson stuff. 78s are holding a piece of history in your hands...sit back,have a brew and listen...ahhhh
The four most expensive 78s I have purchased for my Victrola and my 1936 Wurlitzer jukebox. The Charleston : The Tennessee Tooters The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy: Andrew Sisters Summertime: Billie Holiday Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas: Judy Garland Minnie the moocher: Cab Calloway Talking about the heavy tone arm. In early jukeboxes they made the tonearm heavy so it wouldn't skip while people were dancing.
A commonly found record genre is classical music which some 78 collectors frown upon. I for one really enjoy the classical sounds as well. The most common finds in classical are red label Victors and red RCA Victor red labels as well. Side note: what ruins the 78s is the needle: 78 needless should be changed out after every play, so stock up on needles. Thank you for this video.
I've had great success buying from Kurt Nauck. On the truck that I finally traded in last year, I had a bumper sticker I got from a Naucktion that said "78 RPM: A speed we can live with!" I just took another look at his site this morning and saw that he noted the AT 140 turntable could be used to play even the vertical groove disks with the correct cartridge installed.
Slambo! Thank's for watching and commenting. Nauck's auctions are definitely The Bomb. I have one of those bumper stickers somewhere. Got it when I bought some books from him and have never used it. Skol! Jeff
ive been 78 collecting for a few months now and this was the first video i watched when i was starting out and i still use all the info you gave, thanks man!
That was really good. I’ve had 78’s for a while but only began “collecting” recently. This was a great basic guide on some labels, types of music and some of the condition factors. SO TRUE about condition vs quality. Some of the most mint discs I’ve picked up are absolutely AWFUL music 😂. Luckily, I’ve also been able to pick up some discs in really good condition and a great performance. I think the best guide is to buy music you like. Thanks for making this video, I will subscribe.
Hello, Wally! Thanks for the feedback - for watching and commenting. I definitely agree with you - collect music that you enjoy. That way you can't go wrong. And this is definitely a fun and enjoyable hobby. Skol! Jeff
If you have specific records and know their value, Ebay can still be a gold mine. I also, generally avoid Ebay but my point is it never hurts to look. In the last week I've found 2 that sell for $50-80 elsewhere for under $20. One was actually shipped properly and the other has yet to arrive so... But I'm a guy seeking specifics... Helen Kane, LaVerne Baker... Oh my! But thanks for the video it was overall amazing! Thanks for the links! You give great advice for newbies which is commendable! You are appreciated!
I agree! Never hurts to look...anywhere...eBay included. Discogs as well, which I totally neglected to mention in the video. I've not purchased 78s via Discogs, but I do look from time to time and see that there are more and more available there. Thanks for watching and commenting. Skol! Jeff
The 10 inch 78 rpm format has always been my preferred format. There is much to enjoy. One gets a glimpse into the development of sound engineering and advances in recording technology. The music of course; early R&R and R&B artists, etc. I am a casual collector. Kinda. Sorta. I enjoy 50's doo wop best on 78. These more often than not are in poor condition. Especially if record was popular. It's actually one way to know that record was a big hit. First 78 I purchased back in '91 was in bad condition, scratches, graying, chips, etc. It cost $15. which was alot. Seller was not willing to come down ' cause it was rare, early doo wop and popular back in 1952. Despite condition, I purchased it and it played thru beautifully. Sadly this single, In My Lonely Room, (Sorry, forgot group name), met its demise in my hands. Yes, they need to be handled with care. Thank you.
Been collecting them for years here in the UK. When I was a kid they were still being produced so in a sense I was bought up being very aware of them(I was born in 1952).Here in the UK no one really wants them so they cost pennies. Great hobby.
Hello, Richard! Definitely a fun hobby. Wow! I'm a bit envious of the UK market for 78s. Here in the US, the treasure hordes of 78s seem to be disappearing. And prices - especially online - are up. Although - I still have luck at some antique stores where I can find 78s for a dollar or two. Thanks for watching and commenting. Skol! Jeff
@@ToneInGrooves People like you keep alive the joy of owning and playing this under-appreciated music form so a Big shout out to you Sir. When we are gone I hope some (younger) people are at least educated enough to continue your good worj
My father was a huge collector of 78's, I was lucky enough to have his Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Elvis collection. My father was a huge collector, walls of 78's and cylinder records. Nelson Eddy and Jeanette Macdonald, along with many others. My love for 78's continue to this day. Any suggestions on a good player for these gems?
I was just thinking about where you have been. Had not seen anything from you in a while. I was just talking to a friend a few days ago about collecting 78’s and got me thinking about your channel. Locally, 78’s have dried up due to closings of antique shops, junk shops and flea markets due to lockdowns. I recently gave a bunch of 78’s from my collection to a friend that was starting to collect after he bought an antique record player. Before it closed, one local antique shop had a bunch of 78’s, but they were almost all priced in the $10 to $40 range! I had to pass. Enjoyed the video Jeff. Thanks.
Hey, Topper! Good to hear from you, my friend. Bummer, the lack of 78s in your area. Although, I must admit that the same seems to be true around here, in my usual haunts. Don't know if it's COVID related, or just the simple fact that the people who would have owned 78s are no longer with us. The local junk shop that I mentioned in the video that buys up entire estates - he seems to have fewer 78s and more and more LPs from the 50s and 60s - which makes sense. People who are passing on today in their 70s or even 80s, were born in the 1940s and 1950s, and came of age in the 50s and 60s - so they were of the LP era. They'd probably only have 78s in their estates if their parents or grandparents had them, and then only if they held on to them all those years. So, I think we'll see fewer and fewer influxes of 78s into the general market. Which, unfortunately means more and more 78s only being sold in the specialty markets and at higher prices. Thanks for watching and commenting. Skol! Jeff
I started collecting about 35 years ago. I had a portable Victrola and would bring it to art deco society picnics, etc. I’ve collected on and off over the years. I see you forget to mention the OKEH label where you’d find a lot of black artists. I primarily collected novelty records, and also old 20s jazz when I could find it. I play ukulele and guitar so these old records were a source of ideas for cover tunes. I also have a full size Victrola in my house and enjoy it.
Some thrift stores are picky about what they sell. Working as a reciever in goodwill, we had lists of stuff to toss. God, I hope all the loads of 78s delivered to goodwills over the years havnt hit the dumpster....I just asked my magic eightball, outlook not so good.
I have been collecting 78s for about 5 years now, and I did start at a local thrift store near me, and some were in the garbage bin (don't know why) but the people working there let me dig in the garbage to save the 78s, and I found a bunch of good ones. Then I did get a bunch on ebay as well, and had considerably good luck finding some interesting records, including 3 records performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, 3 records of speeches by King George V (one had both King George V and Queen Mary), and a 78 of Louis Vierne at the organ of Notre Dame, just to name a few.
Very cool! Always good to rescue these records from the trash. I have horror stories of 78s being used for all kinds of things like target practice - that destroyed them. I often times think of my self as a rescuer of records - or an archivist. But I can't save them all. Just not enough space. Thanks for watching and commenting. Skol! Jeff
Great to see this video, Jeff! I was an avid collector of both 78's and LP's in my 20's to 30's, buying mostly jazz from the 1920's onward; when I went back to school (a couple of states away) the collection was stored in my ancestral storage unit (LOL), where it's been untouched for over 40 years. Now I'm finally retired and getting back into the music, buying a new system which I'll be using to convert the grooves to bits. IDK how rare these discs are (they number in the thousands) but I'm terrified of letting the music fall into obscurity. (a bit of a "Secret Museum of Mankind" hero worship, I think!) I see you've got other videos, so I'm excited to watch and learn about your work. I think we'd have a lot of tastes in common: Jones and Hare anyone?
Found an antique shop that had a crate full of them for a buck each. These 78s were still in their original papers, not too many scratches and barely any that were chipped. I got them all nice and cleaned up, took me about 3 hours to clean them all; I also bought some new holders for them. Did it cost me all in total $120? Yes. But still a really good find, especially with how EBay treats the pricing of records. I struck gold.
Thanks for making this video,don't know much about us labels since I'm a uk collector, couple of points to add that 78rpm wear atlest pre 40s and 50s 78s tend to be a lot more durable (especially if comparing to records)to ware such as scratches,I've found also quality gramophone needles make a lot of difference along with cleaning them properly.As good needle can make a lot of difference especially on a well loved disc.acdc just relised spear head gramophone needles and I found out ther good for really dirty 78s with 90 or so years of dirt in them spear head needle are bit thicker along with fins on them it helps to pick up all the crap in groves. I've only been collecting 78s for year but it's definitely worth getting into for anyone wondering to branch out from records if they like that music/history.
Agreed! Definitely a hobby worth diving into, not just for the music but for the history. It's truly amazing to hold an antique, 100+ year old record in your hands, and then PLAY IT - and bring that music to life! It's like activating a time machine and bringing the past to life. So cool! Thanks for sharing the info on different eras of 78s. Hadn't thought of that, but definitely rings true in my experience. Thanks for watching and commenting! Skol! Jeff
I’ve got around 200 or so. I’ve got a whole library of Nat King Cole, and jazz/blues, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and classic Christmas tunes. I’ve got some Ivy League school marching band fight recordings like Yale, and early rock n roll music too. I’ve got a couple Edison “78” records, if they actually qualify as that class of record.
I have a Goodwill near me in my small town that has hundreds of records. About 100 78’s at any given time. 2 bucks a piece. There also an antique store near me with 78’s and there’s tons of them all for 1 dollar. I’ve gotten some nice stuff there as well.
I have a few 78 from my great grandparents. A bunch of old Italian stuff from New York I’m thinking about selling. One is called tri-bar Records The three bars. It’s pretty rare I don’t see any sold or for sale. There is one on eBay for 1,500 but nobody is buying it. I have a bunch of rare labels I don’t see anywhere when I try to research them.
Used to always be looking through the 45s and 78s in Salvation Army stores in 1980s and 90s where I could get them as little as a dime. I was always looking for records by Fats Waller and Benny Goodman Sextet. I grew up with 78 records in our house and still have some old family records. I have a severely worn Django Reinhardt and Hot Club of France - Nuages and Loves Melody - my dad said my aunts played it to death during the war. My favorite 78 and one of my favorite records of all I have is Benny Goodman Sextet with Charley Christianson - Rose Room Also have an old Moran & Mack comedy record.
I dont know if this is a dumb question? But do I need sleeves for 78s to store them ? Are the grooves just as delicate as a modern lp? How do you recommend storing?
Great clip, I still have my parents 78 collection, I took about 30 discs, no one else wanted them in the family, I wish I had taken more. Here's a story that will curl your toes up...when I was about 8 in the late 60's in New Zealand, I went to a School Fair & there was what we used to call a ''Coconut Shy'' where coconuts were sitting on metal holders in a tent, and you would have to knock them off with a wooden ball & win a prize, well they ran out of coconuts & the guy came back with an armfull of 78's & they were used instead. All got smashed to smithereens !. sad but true, even back then as a kid I thought it was a real shame.
Hello, Paul! Thank you for watching and commenting. Cool that you have your parents' 78s. I have a number that belonged to my grand parents. Great sentimental value. Ouch! Yeah, I've heard similar stories about 78s being used for target practice and in carnival games, etc. Breaks my heart. Skol! Jeff
My father told me many years ago,,like 40....that when station 3XC in Timaru started playing vinyl LPs, they had a smashing party,,,where the objects of attention were the superseded 78s.....words fail me
@@PaulLea That is so sad, to loose these antiques. As soon as I told a friend that I was collecting these last year, she said her immediate thoughts of these records were 'fruit bowls', her Auntie used to put them in the oven and make fruit bowls from them as the shellac heated up. All I could think was - what were they? Old Jazz that there may now be less of? I am from Australia and we say bugger also, but for me it is sad, I think more from the fact that our old possessions are not valued, a lot of people want new and toss out old things so readily. I would have loved some from my grandparents but I don't think they had these, so I hunt for those that may be deceased estates, and like the ones I find when they have been well looked after!
@@sammuldoon4387 Yeah it was out with the old in with the new, but so much of the old stuff on 78s never made it to vinyl, About the fruit bowls... when I lived in Sydney for a couple of years back in 1987 & 88 I did the same thing, but to old vinyl LPs I picked up for next to nothing at a second hand shop, it seemed like a fun idea at the time to melt them into bowls, but the novelty soon wore off, I did about a dozen or so and also made some that I didn't melt into clocks, I had plans of trying to sell them at Paddy's Market, but never got around to it. (remember 1987 88 no one wanted vinyl LPs, even record shops were trying to flogg them off cheap in favour of CDs. I treasure my old family 78s though and sometimes get them them out. I moved to Denmark a decade or so ago and took my 78s with me.
Actually, there are a small number of dealers online that do a very good job at shipping and do have very good product. What I recommend to the community is that they do their own research and look at the feedback. I purchase from at least three or four dealers on eBay and always receive terrific product and the shipping is impeccable. Not everyone could drive to Texas to buy Records from Nauks in Texas (and Nauks ships, too)
Jeff, thanks so much! Really loved this. Great info. I never knew about the Acoustic/Electric recording. I love the little nuances of the labels that you were mentioning. This was very informative and very helpful. I'm picturing that groove wear that you mentioned when the 78 is gray. I've definitely seen them before. I wouldn't have known that if I hadn't watched your video. You're the best! Thanks again! I'll be rewatching your cleaning method video sometime this upcoming week. If you do anything different now then from that video I'd love to hear it! Take care, Jeff!
Glad it was helpful, Bill. Thanks for the feedback. I'm thinking of doing future videos that will be a deep dive into the different labels and their variations, chronologically. There are so many little variants just in Victor Record's labels, for example, that narrow down the production date; and that separate 1st pressing from later pressings. Thanks for watching and commenting. Skol! Jeff
Agree best advice in a record store/shop, is to ask for unsorted boxes. These are boxes that they have aquired, buut have no sorted and priced. Easily the best way for you to get a great deal, and for them to move a bunch of stock, especially if they dont want it! I have made ££££'s doing this!
Any ideas on preserving old Edison Diamond disc jackets? I've inherited a family collection with the old Edison phonograph and the 78s are stored inside the console. Many still have jackets but they are starting to fall apart and get brittle. Any thoughts appreciated.
As a Collector and Admirer of the late Yehudi Menuhin I've been Collecting his Records both on Pre War 78rpm and LP Vinyl for over forty years so I think I know what to look for and off course every Collector has got a copy of the famous 1932 Recording with the London Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Sir Edward Elgar of the Elgar Violin Concerto in the Pre war album Record Numbers DB-1751 DB-1756(Album Number 164)and on the first LP Record Transfer Record Number ALP-1456 Red and Gold and the 1970's Reissue in the HMV Treasury Serious Record Number HLM-7107 on the Brown label;as well as a first Pressing Stereo of his later 1966 Recording with the New Philharmonia Orchestra Conducted by Sir Adrian Boult Record Number ASD-2259:
hi..interesting what you are saying..and yes I would agree to what you say about some 78s being sold on eBay..but there are some very good ebayers like me that do 78s and know what they are doing and know how to pack ..I have been doing 78s for over 40 years now..any how .as I sead this is interesting..
Hello, Allan! Always appreciate meeting other 78s enthusiasts. Thanks for watching and commenting. I do agree. Yes, there are some good sellers of 78s on eBay. I've just experienced and seen others experience bad luck with a lot of eBay sellers who don't know what they have, how to properly pack, or how to properly grade 78s. So, in my experience it's a bit hit & miss. What's your eBay seller ID/store? I'd love to check out your stock. Skol! Jeff
Been into vinyl for years and only just got shellac 78s on Record Store Day recently after discovering my favorite indie store has a small 78 section. I do have a Technics SL-1210GR which can of course play all 3 major speeds but I had to order a 3 mil stylus for my Nagaoka MP-110 which was actually more cost-effective than just buying a whole new cartridge and headshell. I had been expecting to get hand-me-down 78s from family members but I ended up buying my own instead. Hopefully some family members do still have some.
Very cool, Sam! Make a video of your 78 finds. I always enjoy seeing what other people find and collect. Thank you for watching and commenting. Skol! Jeff
It is essential to put "fragile" on packages containing shellac records, and an instruction "do not bend" on vinyl records. It is also essential for the courier to take the proper care and not go about like a bull in a china shop.
Bubble plastic is the greatest savior for packing records. Best thing to use for packing records individually, are corrugated cardboard squares, the size of the records, between every record. THEN wrap the records (and cardboards) as a unit, between the bubble plastic sheets.
I am soooooo interested to find the Harmony Records releases from the second half of the 1920s that were recorded acoustically on Columbia’s upgraded equipment. It’s gonna take me some time to find some though since I’m too poor and afraid to buy them online
I just got into Robert crumb's collection of music, Chimpin' the blues, Sweet Shellac, and such. Any idea where I might be able to find 78s from the 20s?
Online...go to Venerable Music. Ebay can also be a good place to find 78s. In the flesh...antique stores, junk shops, etc. Or vinyl record stores - if they don't have any out in the racks ask the owners if they have any. Often they do, just not out for sale...hidden away in a closet or the basement. Good luck and happy hunting. Thanks for watching and commenting. Skol! Jeff
I have 6 shellac record albums with 9 to 12 records in each. I have one with the groove on one side, (Silvertone, orange label, baritone solo with orch. backing 3516) and the rest are double sided, but decent looking condition. How do i know what they're worth? I want to sell them, but i don't want to give them away.
Determining "value" is not so easy and can be a time consuming endeavor. For REAL actual money paid for records it's best to look at previous sales on eBay or Discogs. On eBay you can do a search and click the "Sold Items" filter option. I believe on eBay you can only see what's sold in the past 60 or 90 days. On Discogs you can see complete sale history for a record going back years. Popsike is another website that provides previous sale info for all kinds of items, not just records. Good luck! Skol, Jeff
#1 tip I would give a new collector is: Do not play nice condition or rare discs on old acoustic or pre modern electric phonos. I see so many nice 78's being on those here on youtube. Ok to collect old phonos but just play both low grade and common discs on them.
If you are near St. Pete Florida go to Banana's. There are three locations, retail store, vinyl warehouse (literally millions of records) and audio warehouse. You want to go to the audio warehouse and ask for Doug. In the back of the warehouse there are at least a few hundred thousand 78's and they are all for sale. Doug is very reasonable on prices. Fair warning, its overwhelming and not organized in any way. Just dive in.
I've heard of Banana's but have never been there. I do get to Florida somewhat regularly, as my parents live on the east coast. So, someday I'll get over to Tampa and hit up Bananas. Thanks for watching and commenting. Skol! Jeff
0:58 Man I'm nowhere near to be a 78 y/o but I want so bad to call myself a "78er" haha, I'm just starting my collection and it's quite the experience.
Hello, Omar. Great question! Probably was a simple cost saving method. You've got me wondering though, about the evolution of record packaging - sleeves, cover art, etc. There were albums of 78s that had appealing cover art, liner notes, etc. But I don't know the history of that, and how that evolved into the LP era. Going to have to do some research now. Thanks for watching and commenting. Skol! Jeff
@@ToneInGrooves Hi Jeff, I have only last year got into the collecting of 78's. I always hunt for the elusive brown paper stack in odd shops and the like and now have 2 gramaphone players and nearly 450 78's. About the paper being used to store these, my understanding is that it comes down to the record breathing, I did read somewhere about the contents in the shellac needing to breath. I am not sure if this is correct though. But I have been making new covers from brown paper for those that don't have covers or the covers are too far gone. A friend of mine said that some covers alone are worth collecting so I never throw out old covers either! It is good to see that people are getting back to the old music as it is so good to listen to. Sam
Yes, they often are. Can't tell whether a fox trot side is hot or sweet, jazzy or schmalzy, etc. That comes with listening experience - getting to know how certain bands played, vocalists sang, etc. Skol! Jeff
Hi, i am from switzeland, and i have a collection of 78 rpm, now i am old and i want to sold this collection, have you any interest to bay it, if yes i can send you a full description. regards
Nice overview from America. I like in tge UK vut have a local second hand record sgoo get sells 78s so i buyvfrim there and very occsionally elsewhere. I'd love more blues and R&B but i dont live in America and no way would i eant a record gsupoed, only to find it arrive broken. It's bad enough with people shipping new vinyl.
I LOVE 78`s! I find I have more Brunswick Records then a lot of Columbia or Victor, and ARC Plaza records (Regal, BANNER, Perfect, Pathe, Oriole, Cameo, Paramount, Puritan, Broadway, ect!) I LOVE Mostly 1920`s and early to mid 1930`s! One Columbia record label that seem to be forgotten but I find a LOT of, is the so called "flag" metallic label, in 1923 to 1925 mostly Copper colored with a small blue dot with the magic notes above Columbia in black print below with two "BANNERS" Red White and Blue on each side of a rectangle white box with the Title and Artist info there in, Usually these were popular vocals and or Dance Orchestra Records, and Blues, Foreign music Jazz or what ever the ethnic music (ie) Greek, French, Germany, has a Greenish metallic color! Silver for Classical, a handful of these are electrical, this is just to use up old label stock! these are between the other almost forgotten label, The Black acoustical or electrical pre Viva Tonal label, looks just like the Viva Tonal, but just has Columbia, no indication of acoustical or electrical on the label, The Blue Gold band label as shown at 18:34, Another label that does not get mentioned as much by Columbia is the Blue or black, green, label that has the same COLUMBIA but without the gold band, just COLUMBIA in all capitols in gold print, these are acoustical records made in the mid to late 1910`s The label before that is the so called LARGE Note, and the strange arched Grand Prize labels! The large note Records have some GREAT Music on them, at times, Blue, Black, Green, or Note that their three types of the Blue with gold band label, The Round O and starting around 1922 the oval O, also Exclusive Artist label! and then I find the "Royal Blue Columbia Records from late 1931 to 1935, these will have a black label on the early issues then Blue on the rest, Then in 1936 came out the round letter COLUMBIA, this is the precursor to the Red box letter label, (known as the Microphone label) This video is FUN! I hope I did not post too much info, I just think collecting these Records is a great hobby!
I have very few "flag" Columbias. I just don't come across them very often. I mostly have the A-series "notes" labels columbias, some viva-tonals, and a tone of red labels form the 40s. I too enjoy the music from the 20s, but also really enjoy the big band music of the 40s. So much good music! Skol! Jeff
Electrical black-label Columbias will always have a circled W in the inner margin, even before "Viva Tonal was introduced. Those black labels without either, are acoustic. Often later pressings of older stuff.
I haven't had any problems buying 78s on ebay...only one incidence of breakage in over a hundred transactions. A few hints...1. Always check the seller's feedback rating, as well as checking what they have sold in the past. That will give you a clue as to if the seller knows what he is doing. 78s should be packed sandwiched between at least two pieces of cardboard and floated inside of a larger box (NOT a 78 mailer "pizza box") with bubble wrap or packing peanuts surrounding the "sandwich". 2. If there is record that you absolutely have to have that is being sold by a rookie record seller, ASK the seller if they know how to safely ship a 78. Remind them that what they are planning to ship is as fragile as a piece of glass. Offer to pay a little extra shipping, if need be. 3. Be aware of how to grade a 78. Most experienced sellers will give a grade to the record. Do a little research to find out what these grades mean. Don't be disappointed by a whipped record if the seller grades it as "good". A "good" record is not very good at all. Grades on 78s usually run, best to worst: N or M (new or mint), EX (excellent), VG (very good), G (good), P (poor). Many times, you will see a "+" or a "-" after the grade, saying the grade is a little better or worse than the basic grade. Hope this helps.
@@ToneInGrooves Hi Jeff and Joseph, I usually look records up on You tube, there are several people who record the playing of a record, even though I have a player and needles, it saves my record to just look it up and listen. Although I would like to hear some of your collection Jeff, jazz is a favourite of mine. Sam
I noticed your Sarona (Long Lake), WI sweatshirt as a displaced Yooper. I agree that crate digging works well for LP's and 45's as well as 78's. Break your back but save your wallet!
My oldest 78s are from 1901 (pre-dog Victor and Columbia climax). And I love to play my good or more valuable stuff on my vintage 1940s and 50s console radio phonographs. The more common meh stuff I have no qualms about playing on my wind up machines. I throw the needle out after one play. But I do agree the best stuff tends to be more worn out. Not really a fan of later Fred Waring or Sammy Kaye or Decca Bing Crosby or Ken Griffin organ solos much of the 1946-1953 era when big band was running on fumes.
I play 78s on my vintage Columbia Grafonola from time to time. As you say...one play per needle. I'm a big Bing fan. But agree with you...I pass on Fred Waring, Sammy Kaye, Shep Fields, etc. Thanks for watching and commenting. Skol! Jeff
@@ToneInGrooves Decca Fred Waring choir junk (excluding the Christmas ones) is what I avoid, but Victor and some Columbia Fred Waring is good. I got a couple blue shellac of Ted Lewis.
@@ToneInGrooves I’m also not a huge fan of Columbia era Sinatra either. But love later Sinatra from Capitol and reprise era. Columbia and Brunswick Crosby was good sometimes and I admire his work on the reel to reel tape deck.
What about cylinder records? I’m really into those! I got an Edison Triumph Phonograph coming soon. Oh BTW some of the earliest 78s still announced the artist and song at the beginning.
@@ToneInGrooves you can get players and records from Antique Stores, EBay, Facebook marketplace, Craigslist, ect. (Plus I have a guy who visits me every year to sell me machines) I’m going on my 12th cylinder machine. I got the equipment to make my own cylinders. And hopefully soon my Acetate disc recorder will be working and I can make my own 78s!
Disc records, rather cavalier about announcements to begin with, dropped announcing entirely by about 1904. Who needed announcements when you had plenty of label space on which to print the title & artist's name? Earliest cylinders were totally blank, except for the trademark, always announced, and continued to do so even with the info., hard to read, was printed on the edge of the cylinder.
Hi, question, I'm cleaning my 78s using the steps in your other video and if the disc has a crack that go through all the way is it still safe and recommended to play? Will it damage the stylists? Thank you. Awesome information and awesome channel!!
Just watched a video on TH-cam of a guy supergluing records that were in two pieces. I have played plenty of cracked records, you just have to make sure the cracked part is lined up even before you play so you don’t rip the needle right off.
I kinda like the 78 ‘ album ‘ cases especially if you have the one that matches your records HOWEVER - they are really bad if not handled right as they will put bending pressure on the records if you try to flip through it like a book. Paper sleeves and stacked flat is probably best
Found your channel just by flipping through TH-cam. I was so pleasantly surprised when a Columbia record popped-up on screen, that I’ve been hoping to find. Telling it to the daisies (but it never gets back to you ), by Ted Wallace and his Campus boys. Got a spare ?. I’m in the UK
I have my share of albums but just started with the 78’s. I have about 50 but it’s all orchestra stuff. German and some by Victor orchestra. Anyway, I want the jazz albums!!
They're cool. It all depends on the music. And of course, it's a better bargain with 2 songs a record. But I dig the music, whatever the format. Skol! Jeff
Great question, Quinton. I would say that depends on a few things: 1) how are you going to play the records? On a vintage acoustic phonograph or a modern turntable? 2) How important is a click-free & pop-free listening experience to you? And 3) how rare is the record and much does it cost? Regarding question #1 - if you're playing them on a vintage phonograph, you don't have to worry about damage to a cartridge & stylus from scratches. As long as scratches are not bad enough to cause the record to skip, it'll play fine, just noisy. Then it's more of a personal preference (question #2) as to how much clicking/popping is too much for your ears. Groove wear is another thing to consider, as the music can literally become inaudible when the grooves are really worn. If you're playing the records on a modern turntable - then, one has to consider the wear and tear that scratches and groove wear are going to cause to the stylus and cartridge. And, of course rarity & price (#3) has to be factored in. Personally, I'm willing to play records that have a few scratches deep enough to feel with a finger nail, but I'm not willing to subject my stylus to deep scratches. So I'll pass on those records. Especially considering that most 78s really aren't that rare. Millions were made, and it's usually relatively easy to find better condition copies of common records, and for reasonable (even cheap) prices. I paid $5 or less for most of the 78s in my collection, and a large number of them I bought for $1 or less. But - if the record is truly rare - than lesser condition is okay, especially if it's priced reasonably. Example: one of the worst-condition records I have in my collection is by King Oliver. It's scratched and cracked. It's the first and only King Oliver record I've found in the wild, and it was only a dollar. So, I bought it! And I play it now and then. It's worth it to me. Plus, my ears have learned to tune out crackle and pop. So, I don't NEED a click-free listening experience. Kind of a long answer to a simple question. Hopefully this helps. Ask for more detail or clarification if you want it. Skol! Jeff
Wow! That's awesome, Christopher! Make a video and show us what you got. I love watching people's videos showing the 78-hoards that they've found. Enjoy your records! And thank you for watching and commenting. Skol! Jeff
Important is how NOT to play them; - on an antique Victrola it is the same as to "demolish" them. If you do that, you show not to be interested in the music itself and not to have respect for historic recordings.
I love the way 78’s sound
When you have the right equipment the Dynamics is amazing
Louis, Thanks for watching and commenting. Much appreciated. Skol! Jeff
Note the point ☝️
Lot of sound in those 78s. I have a kid record on 45 and 78, the 78 is way better sound , you can hear much more detail.
Enjoyed your presentation. I need a guide on how to STOP collecting 78s! I've passed the 2000 mark specialising in 20s dance bands and composer-conducted Classical recordings. As a collector in UK, I would say American buyers have a much greater range of labels to collect, many that were not exported in any quantity. A lot of HMV label discs issued in UK were re-pressings of USA recordings.
There is a record store where I live that people are always bringing in 78s to sell. But they don't sell them so the people just usually leave them. Bill and Judy who own the store give them to me. I have a collection of over 500 received free and some dating back to the late 1890s. Some wonderful old music and comedy to be sure! Thanks for your cool video!
Dennis! That is awesome! Sound like great people. Record store owners helping music lovers connect with the records that will trip their trigger - and giving them away for free. Fantastic! Thanks for watching and commenting. Skol! Jeff
Being an elvis fan,I started collecting his 78s,but then the 40s big band stuff came next and now Al Jolson stuff. 78s are holding a piece of history in your hands...sit back,have a brew and listen...ahhhh
Very good, in-depth discussion on 78s. I definitely learned a lot.
Hello, John! Thanks for watching and commenting. Glad the video was helpful to you. Skol! Jeff
The four most expensive 78s I have purchased for my Victrola and my 1936 Wurlitzer jukebox.
The Charleston : The Tennessee Tooters
The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy: Andrew Sisters
Summertime: Billie Holiday
Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas: Judy Garland
Minnie the moocher: Cab Calloway
Talking about the heavy tone arm. In early jukeboxes they made the tonearm heavy so it wouldn't skip while people were dancing.
A commonly found record genre is classical music which some 78 collectors frown upon. I for one really enjoy the classical sounds as well. The most common finds in classical are red label Victors and red RCA Victor red labels as well. Side note: what ruins the 78s is the needle: 78 needless should be changed out after every play, so stock up on needles. Thank you for this video.
Can you give me tips on where to buy a phonograph and the needles in larger quantities?
I've had great success buying from Kurt Nauck. On the truck that I finally traded in last year, I had a bumper sticker I got from a Naucktion that said "78 RPM: A speed we can live with!"
I just took another look at his site this morning and saw that he noted the AT 140 turntable could be used to play even the vertical groove disks with the correct cartridge installed.
Slambo! Thank's for watching and commenting. Nauck's auctions are definitely The Bomb. I have one of those bumper stickers somewhere. Got it when I bought some books from him and have never used it. Skol! Jeff
ive been 78 collecting for a few months now and this was the first video i watched when i was starting out and i still use all the info you gave, thanks man!
That was really good. I’ve had 78’s for a while but only began “collecting” recently. This was a great basic guide on some labels, types of music and some of the condition factors. SO TRUE about condition vs quality. Some of the most mint discs I’ve picked up are absolutely AWFUL music 😂. Luckily, I’ve also been able to pick up some discs in really good condition and a great performance. I think the best guide is to buy music you like. Thanks for making this video, I will subscribe.
Hello, Wally! Thanks for the feedback - for watching and commenting. I definitely agree with you - collect music that you enjoy. That way you can't go wrong. And this is definitely a fun and enjoyable hobby. Skol! Jeff
i bought an antique Columbia model 87 travel gramophone today, so i hope i'll find some good records in the near future.
As i live in sweden i always look for millitary marches from ww2 era.
They can be insanely valuable 😃
I didn't know march records could be valuable. Cool! Skål! Jeff
Ooo nu måste jag leta efter några sånna nästa gång jag ska ut :)
@Eloy Skursky bots are literally everywhere... (these two are bots)
If you have specific records and know their value, Ebay can still be a gold mine. I also, generally avoid Ebay but my point is it never hurts to look. In the last week I've found 2 that sell for $50-80 elsewhere for under $20. One was actually shipped properly and the other has yet to arrive so... But I'm a guy seeking specifics... Helen Kane, LaVerne Baker... Oh my! But thanks for the video it was overall amazing! Thanks for the links! You give great advice for newbies which is commendable! You are appreciated!
I agree! Never hurts to look...anywhere...eBay included. Discogs as well, which I totally neglected to mention in the video. I've not purchased 78s via Discogs, but I do look from time to time and see that there are more and more available there. Thanks for watching and commenting. Skol! Jeff
The 10 inch 78 rpm format has always been my preferred format. There is much to enjoy. One gets a glimpse into the development of sound engineering and advances in recording technology. The music of course; early R&R and R&B artists, etc.
I am a casual collector. Kinda. Sorta. I enjoy 50's doo wop best on 78. These more often than not are in poor condition. Especially if record was popular. It's actually one way to know that record was a big hit. First 78 I purchased back in '91 was in bad condition, scratches, graying, chips, etc. It cost $15. which was alot. Seller was not willing to come down ' cause it was rare, early doo wop and popular back in 1952. Despite condition, I purchased it and it played thru beautifully. Sadly this single, In My Lonely Room, (Sorry, forgot group name), met its demise in my hands. Yes, they need to be handled with care.
Thank you.
..... the group was THE LARKS, (I was slow to remember. Thanks).....
THANK YOU!! thanks to your webshop recommendations i was able to find a record that i couldn't find anywhere else!
Been collecting them for years here in the UK. When I was a kid they were still being produced so in a sense I was bought up being very aware of them(I was born in 1952).Here in the UK no one really wants them so they cost pennies. Great hobby.
Hello, Richard! Definitely a fun hobby. Wow! I'm a bit envious of the UK market for 78s. Here in the US, the treasure hordes of 78s seem to be disappearing. And prices - especially online - are up. Although - I still have luck at some antique stores where I can find 78s for a dollar or two. Thanks for watching and commenting. Skol! Jeff
@@ToneInGrooves People like you keep alive the joy of owning and playing this under-appreciated music form so a Big shout out to you Sir. When we are gone I hope some (younger) people are at least educated enough to continue your good worj
I found a copy of Elvis Presley's "good rockin' Tonight" at the Goodwill.
My father was a huge collector of 78's, I was lucky enough to have his Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Elvis collection. My father was a huge collector, walls of 78's and cylinder records. Nelson Eddy and Jeanette Macdonald, along with many others.
My love for 78's continue to this day. Any suggestions on a good player for these gems?
Really enjoyed all your commentary. The Victor Red Label is always classical.
I was just thinking about where you have been. Had not seen anything from you in a while. I was just talking to a friend a few days ago about collecting 78’s and got me thinking about your channel. Locally, 78’s have dried up due to closings of antique shops, junk shops and flea markets due to lockdowns. I recently gave a bunch of 78’s from my collection to a friend that was starting to collect after he bought an antique record player. Before it closed, one local antique shop had a bunch of 78’s, but they were almost all priced in the $10 to $40 range! I had to pass. Enjoyed the video Jeff. Thanks.
Hey, Topper! Good to hear from you, my friend. Bummer, the lack of 78s in your area. Although, I must admit that the same seems to be true around here, in my usual haunts. Don't know if it's COVID related, or just the simple fact that the people who would have owned 78s are no longer with us. The local junk shop that I mentioned in the video that buys up entire estates - he seems to have fewer 78s and more and more LPs from the 50s and 60s - which makes sense. People who are passing on today in their 70s or even 80s, were born in the 1940s and 1950s, and came of age in the 50s and 60s - so they were of the LP era. They'd probably only have 78s in their estates if their parents or grandparents had them, and then only if they held on to them all those years. So, I think we'll see fewer and fewer influxes of 78s into the general market. Which, unfortunately means more and more 78s only being sold in the specialty markets and at higher prices. Thanks for watching and commenting. Skol! Jeff
I started collecting about 35 years ago. I had a portable Victrola and would bring it to art deco society picnics, etc. I’ve collected on and off over the years. I see you forget to mention the OKEH label where you’d find a lot of black artists. I primarily collected novelty records, and also old 20s jazz when I could find it. I play ukulele and guitar so these old records were a source of ideas for cover tunes. I also have a full size Victrola in my house and enjoy it.
Some thrift stores are picky about what they sell. Working as a reciever in goodwill, we had lists of stuff to toss. God, I hope all the loads of 78s delivered to goodwills over the years havnt hit the dumpster....I just asked my magic eightball, outlook not so good.
とても分かりやすく、参考になりました‼️
素敵な動画をありがとうございました❤
I have been collecting 78s for about 5 years now, and I did start at a local thrift store near me, and some were in the garbage bin (don't know why) but the people working there let me dig in the garbage to save the 78s, and I found a bunch of good ones. Then I did get a bunch on ebay as well, and had considerably good luck finding some interesting records, including 3 records performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, 3 records of speeches by King George V (one had both King George V and Queen Mary), and a 78 of Louis Vierne at the organ of Notre Dame, just to name a few.
Very cool! Always good to rescue these records from the trash. I have horror stories of 78s being used for all kinds of things like target practice - that destroyed them. I often times think of my self as a rescuer of records - or an archivist. But I can't save them all. Just not enough space. Thanks for watching and commenting. Skol! Jeff
A slew of solid tips in this segment. I collect some 78s. This is a well done overview that gets into some very helpful detail. Nice work!
Thank you! Really appreciate the comments & positive feedback. Skol! Jeff
Great to see this video, Jeff! I was an avid collector of both 78's and LP's in my 20's to 30's, buying mostly jazz from the 1920's onward; when I went back to school (a couple of states away) the collection was stored in my ancestral storage unit (LOL), where it's been untouched for over 40 years. Now I'm finally retired and getting back into the music, buying a new system which I'll be using to convert the grooves to bits. IDK how rare these discs are (they number in the thousands) but I'm terrified of letting the music fall into obscurity. (a bit of a "Secret Museum of Mankind" hero worship, I think!)
I see you've got other videos, so I'm excited to watch and learn about your work. I think we'd have a lot of tastes in common: Jones and Hare anyone?
Found an antique shop that had a crate full of them for a buck each. These 78s were still in their original papers, not too many scratches and barely any that were chipped. I got them all nice and cleaned up, took me about 3 hours to clean them all; I also bought some new holders for them. Did it cost me all in total $120? Yes. But still a really good find, especially with how EBay treats the pricing of records. I struck gold.
Thanks for making this video,don't know much about us labels since I'm a uk collector, couple of points to add that 78rpm wear atlest pre 40s and 50s 78s tend to be a lot more durable (especially if comparing to records)to ware such as scratches,I've found also quality gramophone needles make a lot of difference along with cleaning them properly.As good needle can make a lot of difference especially on a well loved disc.acdc just relised spear head gramophone needles and I found out ther good for really dirty 78s with 90 or so years of dirt in them spear head needle are bit thicker along with fins on them it helps to pick up all the crap in groves.
I've only been collecting 78s for year but it's definitely worth getting into for anyone wondering to branch out from records if they like that music/history.
Agreed! Definitely a hobby worth diving into, not just for the music but for the history. It's truly amazing to hold an antique, 100+ year old record in your hands, and then PLAY IT - and bring that music to life! It's like activating a time machine and bringing the past to life. So cool! Thanks for sharing the info on different eras of 78s. Hadn't thought of that, but definitely rings true in my experience. Thanks for watching and commenting! Skol! Jeff
This is a very good video, you have taught me alot today, not a lot of this kinda info going around. Thank you, New Subscriber here.
Great video one time i got a 78 of dumbo and when it arrived i almost had a heart attack when i saw all the records were shattered!
That's heartbreaking. Thanks for watching and commenting. Skol! Jeff
I’ve got around 200 or so. I’ve got a whole library of Nat King Cole, and jazz/blues, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and classic Christmas tunes. I’ve got some Ivy League school marching band fight recordings like Yale, and early rock n roll music too. I’ve got a couple Edison “78” records, if they actually qualify as that class of record.
I have a Goodwill near me in my small town that has hundreds of records. About 100 78’s at any given time. 2 bucks a piece. There also an antique store near me with 78’s and there’s tons of them all for 1 dollar. I’ve gotten some nice stuff there as well.
I have a few 78 from my great grandparents. A bunch of old Italian stuff from New York I’m thinking about selling. One is called tri-bar Records The three bars. It’s pretty rare I don’t see any sold or for sale. There is one on eBay for 1,500 but nobody is buying it. I have a bunch of rare labels I don’t see anywhere when I try to research them.
Used to always be looking through the 45s and 78s in Salvation Army stores in 1980s and 90s where I could get them as little as a dime.
I was always looking for records by Fats Waller and Benny Goodman Sextet.
I grew up with 78 records in our house and still have some old family records. I have a severely worn Django Reinhardt and Hot Club of France
- Nuages and Loves Melody - my dad said my aunts played it to death during the war.
My favorite 78 and one of my favorite records of all I have is Benny Goodman Sextet with Charley Christianson - Rose Room
Also have an old Moran & Mack comedy record.
I dont know if this is a dumb question? But do I need sleeves for 78s to store them ? Are the grooves just as delicate as a modern lp? How do you recommend storing?
Great clip, I still have my parents 78 collection, I took about 30 discs, no one else wanted them in the family, I wish I had taken more. Here's a story that will curl your toes up...when I was about 8 in the late 60's in New Zealand, I went to a School Fair & there was what we used to call a ''Coconut Shy'' where coconuts were sitting on metal holders in a tent, and you would have to knock them off with a wooden ball & win a prize, well they ran out of coconuts & the guy came back with an armfull of 78's & they were used instead. All got smashed to smithereens !. sad but true, even back then as a kid I thought it was a real shame.
Hello, Paul! Thank you for watching and commenting. Cool that you have your parents' 78s. I have a number that belonged to my grand parents. Great sentimental value. Ouch! Yeah, I've heard similar stories about 78s being used for target practice and in carnival games, etc. Breaks my heart. Skol! Jeff
My father told me many years ago,,like 40....that when station 3XC in Timaru started playing vinyl LPs, they had a smashing party,,,where the objects of attention were the superseded 78s.....words fail me
@@neville132bbk oh no....what a waste of 78s. ..even worse than my initial comment. ...as they say in NZ....BUGGER !.
@@PaulLea That is so sad, to loose these antiques. As soon as I told a friend that I was collecting these last year, she said her immediate thoughts of these records were 'fruit bowls', her Auntie used to put them in the oven and make fruit bowls from them as the shellac heated up. All I could think was - what were they? Old Jazz that there may now be less of? I am from Australia and we say bugger also, but for me it is sad, I think more from the fact that our old possessions are not valued, a lot of people want new and toss out old things so readily. I would have loved some from my grandparents but I don't think they had these, so I hunt for those that may be deceased estates, and like the ones I find when they have been well looked after!
@@sammuldoon4387 Yeah it was out with the old in with the new, but so much of the old stuff on 78s never made it to vinyl, About the fruit bowls... when I lived in Sydney for a couple of years back in 1987 & 88 I did the same thing, but to old vinyl LPs I picked up for next to nothing at a second hand shop, it seemed like a fun idea at the time to melt them into bowls, but the novelty soon wore off, I did about a dozen or so and also made some that I didn't melt into clocks, I had plans of trying to sell them at Paddy's Market, but never got around to it. (remember 1987 88 no one wanted vinyl LPs, even record shops were trying to flogg them off cheap in favour of CDs. I treasure my old family 78s though and sometimes get them them out. I moved to Denmark a decade or so ago and took my 78s with me.
Antique stores are a good place to start!
Yes they are! Skol! Jeff
Actually, there are a small number of dealers online that do a very good job at shipping and do have very good product. What I recommend to the community is that they do their own research and look at the feedback. I purchase from at least three or four dealers on eBay and always receive terrific product and the shipping is impeccable. Not everyone could drive to Texas to buy Records from Nauks in Texas (and Nauks ships, too)
Jeff, thanks so much! Really loved this. Great info. I never knew about the Acoustic/Electric recording. I love the little nuances of the labels that you were mentioning. This was very informative and very helpful. I'm picturing that groove wear that you mentioned when the 78 is gray. I've definitely seen them before. I wouldn't have known that if I hadn't watched your video. You're the best! Thanks again! I'll be rewatching your cleaning method video sometime this upcoming week. If you do anything different now then from that video I'd love to hear it! Take care, Jeff!
Glad it was helpful, Bill. Thanks for the feedback. I'm thinking of doing future videos that will be a deep dive into the different labels and their variations, chronologically. There are so many little variants just in Victor Record's labels, for example, that narrow down the production date; and that separate 1st pressing from later pressings. Thanks for watching and commenting. Skol! Jeff
Agree best advice in a record store/shop, is to ask for unsorted boxes. These are boxes that they have aquired, buut have no sorted and priced. Easily the best way for you to get a great deal, and for them to move a bunch of stock, especially if they dont want it! I have made ££££'s doing this!
Hello, l just got my Columbian grafonola and l can't wait to start my collection. Thanks for your chanel.
Congratulations, Andrea! I have a Columbia Grafonloa, too. Super cool! Definitely a fun hobby to dive into. Enjoy. Skol! Jeff
Any ideas on preserving old Edison Diamond disc jackets? I've inherited a family collection with the old Edison phonograph and the 78s are stored inside the console. Many still have jackets but they are starting to fall apart and get brittle. Any thoughts appreciated.
As a Collector and Admirer of the late Yehudi Menuhin I've been Collecting his Records both on Pre War 78rpm and LP Vinyl for over forty years so I think I know what to look for and off course every Collector has got a copy of the famous 1932 Recording with the London Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Sir Edward Elgar of the Elgar Violin Concerto in the Pre war album Record Numbers DB-1751 DB-1756(Album Number 164)and on the first LP Record Transfer Record Number ALP-1456 Red and Gold and the 1970's Reissue in the HMV Treasury Serious Record Number HLM-7107 on the Brown label;as well as a first Pressing Stereo of his later 1966 Recording with the New Philharmonia Orchestra Conducted by Sir Adrian Boult Record Number ASD-2259:
hi..interesting what you are saying..and yes I would agree to what you say about some 78s being sold on eBay..but there are some very good ebayers like me that do 78s and know what they are doing and know how to pack ..I have been doing 78s for over 40 years now..any how .as I sead this is interesting..
Hello, Allan! Always appreciate meeting other 78s enthusiasts. Thanks for watching and commenting. I do agree. Yes, there are some good sellers of 78s on eBay. I've just experienced and seen others experience bad luck with a lot of eBay sellers who don't know what they have, how to properly pack, or how to properly grade 78s. So, in my experience it's a bit hit & miss. What's your eBay seller ID/store? I'd love to check out your stock. Skol! Jeff
I’ve had an old wind up phonograph for a while and I think I’m going to send it to be refurbished and repaired now.
Awesome, Frank! It’s a fun hobby. Enjoy! Skol! Jeff
Been into vinyl for years and only just got shellac 78s on Record Store Day recently after discovering my favorite indie store has a small 78 section. I do have a Technics SL-1210GR which can of course play all 3 major speeds but I had to order a 3 mil stylus for my Nagaoka MP-110 which was actually more cost-effective than just buying a whole new cartridge and headshell. I had been expecting to get hand-me-down 78s from family members but I ended up buying my own instead. Hopefully some family members do still have some.
Very cool, Sam! Make a video of your 78 finds. I always enjoy seeing what other people find and collect. Thank you for watching and commenting. Skol! Jeff
@@ToneInGrooves Maybe that can be my comeback video! 🙂
@@ToneInGrooves Apologies that it took so long but I finally did that and got way more along the way! th-cam.com/video/Gi3YeY1EGdw/w-d-xo.html
It is essential to put "fragile" on packages containing shellac records, and an instruction "do not bend" on vinyl records. It is also essential for the courier to take the proper care and not go about like a bull in a china shop.
For sure, John! Thanks for watching and commenting. Skol! Jeff
Bubble plastic is the greatest savior for packing records. Best thing to use for packing records individually, are corrugated cardboard squares, the size of the records, between every record. THEN wrap the records (and cardboards) as a unit, between the bubble plastic sheets.
20:17 I have the same record! Very common and popular song(s)
Great stuff! Thanks, Vlad, for watching and commenting. Skol! Jeff
I am soooooo interested to find the Harmony Records releases from the second half of the 1920s that were recorded acoustically on Columbia’s upgraded equipment. It’s gonna take me some time to find some though since I’m too poor and afraid to buy them online
I just got into Robert crumb's collection of music, Chimpin' the blues, Sweet Shellac, and such. Any idea where I might be able to find 78s from the 20s?
Online...go to Venerable Music. Ebay can also be a good place to find 78s. In the flesh...antique stores, junk shops, etc. Or vinyl record stores - if they don't have any out in the racks ask the owners if they have any. Often they do, just not out for sale...hidden away in a closet or the basement. Good luck and happy hunting. Thanks for watching and commenting. Skol! Jeff
I have 6 shellac record albums with 9 to 12 records in each. I have one with the groove on one side, (Silvertone, orange label, baritone solo with orch. backing 3516) and the rest are double sided, but decent looking condition. How do i know what they're worth? I want to sell them, but i don't want to give them away.
Determining "value" is not so easy and can be a time consuming endeavor. For REAL actual money paid for records it's best to look at previous sales on eBay or Discogs. On eBay you can do a search and click the "Sold Items" filter option. I believe on eBay you can only see what's sold in the past 60 or 90 days. On Discogs you can see complete sale history for a record going back years. Popsike is another website that provides previous sale info for all kinds of items, not just records. Good luck! Skol, Jeff
@@ToneInGrooves Don't forget Popsike. You can get a few lookups for free a day without subscribing.
I have found them at flea markets. Personally
I like 33 1/3 records on a 78 size record. I like
old (jazz) recordings.
Cool, Chris! Early jazz is swingin' music. Love it! Thanks for watching and commenting. Skol! Jeff
Hi, do you have resources for selling an old crank record player with pre vinyl records collection? Need to get it off my hands ASAP. ❤. Thank you.
Bananas records have 78s. They are located in Saint Petersburg Florida.
#1 tip I would give a new collector is: Do not play nice condition or rare discs on old acoustic or pre modern electric phonos. I see so many nice 78's being on those here on youtube. Ok to collect old phonos but just play both low grade and common discs on them.
I agree, Ted. Thanks for watching and commenting. Skol! Jeff
Thanks for this. I think I've got the bug, and all info is good info!
Hello, Bill! Enjoy the trip the rabbit hole. Definitely a fun and rewarding hobby. Thanks for watching and commenting. Skol! Jeff
If you are near St. Pete Florida go to Banana's. There are three locations, retail store, vinyl warehouse (literally millions of records) and audio warehouse. You want to go to the audio warehouse and ask for Doug. In the back of the warehouse there are at least a few hundred thousand 78's and they are all for sale. Doug is very reasonable on prices. Fair warning, its overwhelming and not organized in any way. Just dive in.
I've heard of Banana's but have never been there. I do get to Florida somewhat regularly, as my parents live on the east coast. So, someday I'll get over to Tampa and hit up Bananas. Thanks for watching and commenting. Skol! Jeff
Thanks much. Very informative.😊
0:58
Man I'm nowhere near to be a 78 y/o but I want so bad to call myself a "78er" haha, I'm just starting my collection and it's quite the experience.
th-cam.com/video/spemmykb46Q/w-d-xo.html
Awesome! So much great music on 78s. Whole new worlds of music to discover. Enjoy the trip! And thanks for watching and commenting. Skol! Jeff
hi, why aren't the outer and inner plastic sleeves used like vinyl records?
Hello, Omar. Great question! Probably was a simple cost saving method. You've got me wondering though, about the evolution of record packaging - sleeves, cover art, etc. There were albums of 78s that had appealing cover art, liner notes, etc. But I don't know the history of that, and how that evolved into the LP era. Going to have to do some research now. Thanks for watching and commenting. Skol! Jeff
@@ToneInGrooves Hi Jeff, I have only last year got into the collecting of 78's. I always hunt for the elusive brown paper stack in odd shops and the like and now have 2 gramaphone players and nearly 450 78's. About the paper being used to store these, my understanding is that it comes down to the record breathing, I did read somewhere about the contents in the shellac needing to breath. I am not sure if this is correct though. But I have been making new covers from brown paper for those that don't have covers or the covers are too far gone. A friend of mine said that some covers alone are worth collecting so I never throw out old covers either! It is good to see that people are getting back to the old music as it is so good to listen to. Sam
26:45 it baffles me that Helen Morgan was always identified at a "comedienne". So the descriptions are ... really general.
Yes, they often are. Can't tell whether a fox trot side is hot or sweet, jazzy or schmalzy, etc. That comes with listening experience - getting to know how certain bands played, vocalists sang, etc. Skol! Jeff
I’ve never heard the expression “wheelhouse” before. I had to google it. 😊
Hi, i am from switzeland, and i have a collection of 78 rpm, now i am old and i want to sold this collection, have you any interest to bay it, if yes i can send you a full description. regards
Nice overview from America.
I like in tge UK vut have a local second hand record sgoo get sells 78s so i buyvfrim there and very occsionally elsewhere.
I'd love more blues and R&B but i dont live in America and no way would i eant a record gsupoed, only to find it arrive broken.
It's bad enough with people shipping new vinyl.
I LOVE 78`s! I find I have more Brunswick Records then a lot of Columbia or Victor, and ARC Plaza records (Regal, BANNER, Perfect, Pathe, Oriole, Cameo, Paramount, Puritan, Broadway, ect!) I LOVE Mostly 1920`s and early to mid 1930`s! One Columbia record label that seem to be forgotten but I find a LOT of, is the so called "flag" metallic label, in 1923 to 1925 mostly Copper colored with a small blue dot with the magic notes above Columbia in black print below with two "BANNERS" Red White and Blue on each side of a rectangle white box with the Title and Artist info there in, Usually these were popular vocals and or Dance Orchestra Records, and Blues, Foreign music Jazz or what ever the ethnic music (ie) Greek, French, Germany, has a Greenish metallic color! Silver for Classical, a handful of these are electrical, this is just to use up old label stock! these are between the other almost forgotten label, The Black acoustical or electrical pre Viva Tonal label, looks just like the Viva Tonal, but just has Columbia, no indication of acoustical or electrical on the label, The Blue Gold band label as shown at 18:34, Another label that does not get mentioned as much by Columbia is the Blue or black, green, label that has the same COLUMBIA but without the gold band, just COLUMBIA in all capitols in gold print, these are acoustical records made in the mid to late 1910`s The label before that is the so called LARGE Note, and the strange arched Grand Prize labels! The large note Records have some GREAT Music on them, at times, Blue, Black, Green, or Note that their three types of the Blue with gold band label, The Round O and starting around 1922 the oval O, also Exclusive Artist label! and then I find the "Royal Blue Columbia Records from late 1931 to 1935, these will have a black label on the early issues then Blue on the rest, Then in 1936 came out the round letter COLUMBIA, this is the precursor to the Red box letter label, (known as the Microphone label) This video is FUN! I hope I did not post too much info, I just think collecting these Records is a great hobby!
I have very few "flag" Columbias. I just don't come across them very often. I mostly have the A-series "notes" labels columbias, some viva-tonals, and a tone of red labels form the 40s. I too enjoy the music from the 20s, but also really enjoy the big band music of the 40s. So much good music! Skol! Jeff
Electrical black-label Columbias will always have a circled W in the inner margin, even before "Viva Tonal was introduced. Those black labels without either, are acoustic. Often later pressings of older stuff.
I haven't had any problems buying 78s on ebay...only one incidence of breakage in over a hundred transactions. A few hints...1. Always check the seller's feedback rating, as well as checking what they have sold in the past. That will give you a clue as to if the seller knows what he is doing. 78s should be packed sandwiched between at least two pieces of cardboard and floated inside of a larger box (NOT a 78 mailer "pizza box") with bubble wrap or packing peanuts surrounding the "sandwich". 2. If there is record that you absolutely have to have that is being sold by a rookie record seller, ASK the seller if they know how to safely ship a 78. Remind them that what they are planning to ship is as fragile as a piece of glass. Offer to pay a little extra shipping, if need be. 3. Be aware of how to grade a 78. Most experienced sellers will give a grade to the record. Do a little research to find out what these grades mean. Don't be disappointed by a whipped record if the seller grades it as "good". A "good" record is not very good at all. Grades on 78s usually run, best to worst: N or M (new or mint), EX (excellent), VG (very good), G (good), P (poor). Many times, you will see a "+" or a "-" after the grade, saying the grade is a little better or worse than the basic grade. Hope this helps.
Let's goooooooo!!
Enjoyed your video... Only wished you would have played one or two for us! 🤗
Thanks! More Shellac Stacks Listening Sessions are coming soon. Skol! Jeff
@@ToneInGrooves Hi Jeff and Joseph, I usually look records up on You tube, there are several people who record the playing of a record, even though I have a player and needles, it saves my record to just look it up and listen. Although I would like to hear some of your collection Jeff, jazz is a favourite of mine. Sam
I noticed your Sarona (Long Lake), WI sweatshirt as a displaced Yooper. I agree that crate digging works well for LP's and 45's as well as 78's. Break your back but save your wallet!
Hello, Martin! Thanks for watching and commenting. Skol! Jeff
My oldest 78s are from 1901 (pre-dog Victor and Columbia climax). And I love to play my good or more valuable stuff on my vintage 1940s and 50s console radio phonographs. The more common meh stuff I have no qualms about playing on my wind up machines. I throw the needle out after one play. But I do agree the best stuff tends to be more worn out. Not really a fan of later Fred Waring or Sammy Kaye or Decca Bing Crosby or Ken Griffin organ solos much of the 1946-1953 era when big band was running on fumes.
I play 78s on my vintage Columbia Grafonola from time to time. As you say...one play per needle. I'm a big Bing fan. But agree with you...I pass on Fred Waring, Sammy Kaye, Shep Fields, etc. Thanks for watching and commenting. Skol! Jeff
@@ToneInGrooves Decca Fred Waring choir junk (excluding the Christmas ones) is what I avoid, but Victor and some Columbia Fred Waring is good. I got a couple blue shellac of Ted Lewis.
@@ToneInGrooves I’m also not a huge fan of Columbia era Sinatra either. But love later Sinatra from Capitol and reprise era. Columbia and Brunswick Crosby was good sometimes and I admire his work on the reel to reel tape deck.
Brunswick and Victor Bing Crosbies are an entirely different story.
What about cylinder records? I’m really into those! I got an Edison Triumph Phonograph coming soon. Oh BTW some of the earliest 78s still announced the artist and song at the beginning.
I don't have any cylinders. Wouldn't have a way to play them if I did. Skol! Jeff
@@ToneInGrooves you can get players and records from Antique Stores, EBay, Facebook marketplace, Craigslist, ect. (Plus I have a guy who visits me every year to sell me machines) I’m going on my 12th cylinder machine. I got the equipment to make my own cylinders. And hopefully soon my Acetate disc recorder will be working and I can make my own 78s!
Disc records, rather cavalier about announcements to begin with, dropped announcing entirely by about 1904. Who needed announcements when you had plenty of label space on which to print the title & artist's name? Earliest cylinders were totally blank, except for the trademark, always announced, and continued to do so even with the info., hard to read, was printed on the edge of the cylinder.
I go to Deja Vu Records for 78s.
Edit: It is now officially closed down.
Hi, question, I'm cleaning my 78s using the steps in your other video and if the disc has a crack that go through all the way is it still safe and recommended to play? Will it damage the stylists? Thank you. Awesome information and awesome channel!!
Just watched a video on TH-cam of a guy supergluing records that were in two pieces.
I have played plenty of cracked records, you just have to make sure the cracked part is lined up even before you play so you don’t rip the needle right off.
My guess is that storing them in paper sleeves is the best way to go. Correct?
I kinda like the 78 ‘ album ‘ cases especially if you have the one that matches your records HOWEVER - they are really bad if not handled right as they will put bending pressure on the records if you try to flip through it like a book.
Paper sleeves and stacked flat is probably best
Very informative! Thank you.
Thank you for watching and commenting! Skol! jeff
Found your channel just by flipping through TH-cam. I was so pleasantly surprised when a Columbia record popped-up on screen, that I’ve been hoping to find. Telling it to the daisies (but it never gets back to you ), by Ted Wallace and his Campus boys. Got a spare ?.
I’m in the UK
Thanks for watching and commenting. Always good to connect with another 78 enthusiast. Skol! Jeff
I have my share of albums but just started with the 78’s. I have about 50 but it’s all orchestra stuff. German and some by Victor orchestra. Anyway, I want the jazz albums!!
Hello, John! Collecting 78s is definitely a meaningful and fun hobby. Thanks for watching and commenting. Skol! jeff
They sell everything at the
Alton Exchange Center.
hello
pls guide where can i get hindi film records missing number by titles
I like your video,. thanbks for the tips..
What do you think of one sided 78s
They're cool. It all depends on the music. And of course, it's a better bargain with 2 songs a record. But I dig the music, whatever the format. Skol! Jeff
This is funny! Thanks!
Great video
Great video! You’ve gained a new subscriber! :)
Hello, Olav! Thanks so much for watching, commenting, AND subscribing. Much appreciated! Skol! Jeff
Great info! Thanks
Glad it was helpful, Daniel. Thank you for watching and commenting. Skol! Jeff
How scratched is too scratch to buy?
Great question, Quinton. I would say that depends on a few things: 1) how are you going to play the records? On a vintage acoustic phonograph or a modern turntable? 2) How important is a click-free & pop-free listening experience to you? And 3) how rare is the record and much does it cost? Regarding question #1 - if you're playing them on a vintage phonograph, you don't have to worry about damage to a cartridge & stylus from scratches. As long as scratches are not bad enough to cause the record to skip, it'll play fine, just noisy. Then it's more of a personal preference (question #2) as to how much clicking/popping is too much for your ears. Groove wear is another thing to consider, as the music can literally become inaudible when the grooves are really worn. If you're playing the records on a modern turntable - then, one has to consider the wear and tear that scratches and groove wear are going to cause to the stylus and cartridge. And, of course rarity & price (#3) has to be factored in. Personally, I'm willing to play records that have a few scratches deep enough to feel with a finger nail, but I'm not willing to subject my stylus to deep scratches. So I'll pass on those records. Especially considering that most 78s really aren't that rare. Millions were made, and it's usually relatively easy to find better condition copies of common records, and for reasonable (even cheap) prices. I paid $5 or less for most of the 78s in my collection, and a large number of them I bought for $1 or less. But - if the record is truly rare - than lesser condition is okay, especially if it's priced reasonably. Example: one of the worst-condition records I have in my collection is by King Oliver. It's scratched and cracked. It's the first and only King Oliver record I've found in the wild, and it was only a dollar. So, I bought it! And I play it now and then. It's worth it to me. Plus, my ears have learned to tune out crackle and pop. So, I don't NEED a click-free listening experience. Kind of a long answer to a simple question. Hopefully this helps. Ask for more detail or clarification if you want it. Skol! Jeff
@@ToneInGrooves Awesome answer.
our local second hand store sells all records for 5 cents each just to get rid of them ....
Wow! 78s for 5 cents!? That is amazing! Would LOVE to dig there. Thanks for watching and commenting. Skol! Jeff
Probably 3 or 4 out of every ten estate sales I go to have 78s.
That's awesome, Paul! Hopefully some good records. Thanks for watching and commenting. Skol! Jeff
Awsome video
The biggest secret about 78 is with the right equipment how great they could sound
I love 78s but o would never buy em online. 🙅🙅🙅
I like the original Memphis five background music
Yes! Great stuff! Thank you for watching and commenting, Christopher. Skol! Jeff
Wrong sleeve on that Brunswick. Belongs on a @ 1930 record. Not to nitpick, but that’s your lead image. Electric sleeve on an acoustic disc
I would never mail a 78.....so fragile. Yard sales is a good start.
I just came into a few thousand 78s
Wow! That's awesome, Christopher! Make a video and show us what you got. I love watching people's videos showing the 78-hoards that they've found. Enjoy your records! And thank you for watching and commenting. Skol! Jeff
This is interesting
Thanks for watching and commenting. Skol! Jeff
including records.
AUCTIONS ARE OVerly PRICED
You cannot destroy shellac by playing it lol.
Only time can, cuz all of other materials used to make records weren`t perfect. Since the cracks.
Important is how NOT to play them; - on an antique Victrola it is the same as to "demolish" them.
If you do that, you show not to be interested in the music itself and not to have respect for historic recordings.