Old 78's... cleaning and worth anything these days?

MrNightly

My parents and my grandparents have a bunch of old 78's and records, and we didn't know if they were worth anything these days, so I figured I'd ask around.

Also, how do you clean them?

hearingimpared

Yes they can be worth something.

You can use any kind of record cleaner that is not alcohol based. Alcohol will melt them and kill you from the fumes.

PM Madmax as he has done some cleaning of 78s of late.

madmax

Easy to clean. As HI says use non-alcohol based cleaner. The steamer we have been using works ok with them. I run mine on the VPI vacuum cleaner. You must be careful with them as they are very brittle and crack if you do not have them on a solid flat surface while cleaning them. Probably a cheap record cleaning kit would work ok for $30. I've heard some say not to use water as it sucks into the substrate of the disc and molds but don't really know much about that. I've still steamed some of mine.

At the antique shops they tend to go for 75 cents to $1.50, with the chosen few being maybe $2-$5. On ebay you can find lots of 50 or more for maybe .20 each.

If you decide to get rid of them I might be interested depending on what they are.

madmax

dorokusai

I would snap them in half so they fit in the garbage can better.

As aforementioned, they are usually very brittle so handle with care.

strider

dorokusai wrote: »

I would snap them in half so they fit in the garbage can better.

You're just scared.

Come up to my place sometime. I want to tie you to my listening chair and torture you with vinyl and Carver. :D

madmax

hearingimpared wrote: »

and kill you from the fumes.

and you would be dead just like the artists on the records.

hearingimpared

strider wrote: »

You're just scared.

Come up to my place sometime. I want to tie you to my listening chair and torture you with vinyl and Carver. :D

I'll help!!!:D

hearingimpared

madmax wrote: »

and you would be dead just like the artists on the records.

I gotta tell you . . . my cousin has a shitload of 78s, I mean crates full of The Great Caruso and other really famous, awesome tenors and sopranos. Believe it or not they sound friggin great. He plays them through one of those antique Victrolas. No amplification back then just a mike, and a big megaphone for playback.

madmax

hearingimpared wrote: »

I gotta tell you . . . my cousin has a shitload of 78s, I mean crates full of The Great Caruso and other really famous, awesome tenors and sopranos. Believe it or not they sound friggin great. He plays them through one of those antique Victrolas. No amplification back then just a mike, and a big megaphone for playback.

Its a trip isn't it? Puts you in a different place.
madmax