78rpm records

oldrocker

Unfortunately, this evening I received a box of 78rpm records. There are about 80 records, they have the original paper sleeves, but the records themselves are very dusty and dirty. Never owning anything like this and being a good “nephew” I reluctantly agreed to clean them or at least attempt it. I’d rather just toss them myself.
Any suggestions on what type of cleaning solution/procedure to use.

Thanks all.

gdb

Just toss potentially irreplaceable pieces of history ? Please don't ! If nothing else, find someone who'll appreciate them. They'll bring $$ on eprey.

boston1450

I had a bunch a couple years ago & listed them for free on Clist & 2 days later 70 of them were loaded in a guys car & he was very happy. Some people enjoy them still

oldrocker

I did read some folks say to use soap and water to clean them or some type of alcohol free cleaning solution. I'd love to pass them on if they were mine.

cnh

I really don't know. But when I was a kid my father had a COMPLETE set of Andre Segovia 78s that would probably be one heck of a collector's item these days. I wouldn't mind having those. We never figured out what he did with them!

cnh

gdb

Lot's of info from a Google search ! No alcohol seems to be a universal warning.
http://best-turntables.com/clean-78-rpm-records/

oldrocker

gdb wrote: »

Lot's of info from a Google search ! No alcohol seems to be a universal warning.
http://best-turntables.com/clean-78-rpm-records/

Thanks, been reading up on it this evening. Not to sure on the soap and water thing I've read as I'm in uncharted territory that for sure.

mhardy6647

Shellac discs are soluble in alcohol -- Some 78s are shellac; "modern" 78s aren't likely shellac, but better safe than sorry.

FYI 78 rpm singles were not uncommon well into the 1950s rock 'n' roll era.
There's still interest in 78s, too.
http://the78project.com/

oldmodman

I inherited my dad's collection of Art Tatum Jazz 78's
All nicely stored in boxes and kept in their original multi disc cardboard presentation boxes. Someday I will have to attempt to restore the Rek-O-Cut turntable he had boxed up with them.

mhardy6647

Well you should:- )

On a related note, y'all know about the 1960s underground "comix" artist R. Crumb, yes? He is a world-class collector of early blues music.http://www.crumbproducts.com/



And then there's this guy:
http://www.dustandgrooves.com/joe-bussard-frederick-ma/



PS - a Rek-O-Kut is good for more than just 78s :- )
Here's my project R-O-K; maybe I can help incentivize you (or we can incentivize each other)!

R-O-K noflash by mhardy6647, on Flickr

gce

The problem with 78's is that most turntables today don't play them. So what do you do with them? Unless you're a big fan of 78's you wouldn't have a turntable to play them.

mhardy6647

No dearth of record players for 78s on the used market -- some of which being quite superb.


(A magnificent and rare Fairchild 750 three-speed with Thomas Schick 12" arm -- not mine, needless to say!)

Actually, the danged little current-production "Crosley" and what not disasters often have record players with three speeds.

Now, if you have 16 rpm transcriptions, you're pretty much looking at the vintage player market :- P

gdb

To illustrate the point about Mr. Crumb's obsession............

SCompRacer

I got a 4 speed idler drive, 16 to 78 speed. Modified Lenco L75.



Needle Doctor has a page devoted to tables with 78 speed. I didn't check them all, but some are 3 speed, 33, 45 and 78.

http://www.needledoctor.com/New/78-Speed-Tables