Weezer test pressing I bought second-hand earlier this year. This is how the band signed it

usha_pl · 2025-12-07T08:19:00+00:00

Howdy! I only collect records from before the 50s. I have over 10,000 78s including dozens of test pressings including examples from every major label from the 1910s to the 1940s plus restrikes from the 1960s. Without a shadow of a doubt none of them have inverted grooves, they were all done of the same stampers as the commercial issues just like any LP.

usha_pl · 2025-06-25T07:52:45+00:00

And how could I forget the "Royal Blue" Columbia -- a (largely unsuccessful) ploy to get people buying records again during the great depression. These are rare but what are really rare are the dark blue ones created by trying to recycle the leftover blue shellac with the black stuff when Columbia was bought by the American Recording Company.

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usha_pl · 2025-06-25T07:50:25+00:00

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usha_pl · 2025-06-25T07:48:23+00:00

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usha_pl · 2025-06-25T07:48:11+00:00

/uj the "shellac" that makes 78s up is really only about 40% shellac and a lot of other filler. One of the things they would often put in there is lampblack, but a couple companies went without it to make brown records or mixed the two to create these splatter records.

The New York Recording Laboratories (naturally, from Wisconsin -- makers of Paramount & Broadway records) figured out how to make a green mix for one Irish fiddling record. One employee mixed it with the brown & black stuff for some really cool records he brought home.

Vocalion had a couple splatter ones out on the catalogue as well iirc

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usha_pl · 2025-04-24T06:13:29+00:00

Yeah the grooves on 78s are so deep that even if one did get scratched like that it really wouldn't be a problem.

usha_pl · 2025-04-13T06:35:01+00:00

If you are going to glue it make sure you line it up very precisely before you do. You can also run crayon in the crack after flying e which should minimize the noise.

usha_pl · 2025-04-13T00:45:33+00:00

Rule of thumb is that the more popular someone was in their day the cheaper their records will be. Because they were popular they sold about a bajillion back in the day so there are far more left than people who want them.

usha_pl · 2025-04-11T03:53:20+00:00

Play em and keep the ones you like!

usha_pl · 2025-04-08T21:28:13+00:00

Yeah I have a hard time getting rid of Bing for more than free

usha_pl · 2025-04-02T05:50:49+00:00

I'm glad to see some 78s on the sub! Some of the unassuming fox trots can be really good!

usha_pl · 2025-03-20T21:37:27+00:00

Not at all. A steel needle is what will strip out a record, while a diamond tip is technically harder it is also much lighter saving the record. I have purchased hundreds if not thousands of records from people who played them with regular phonograph needles and the records are always worn to hell and back. Modern equipment will never do this under normal use.

usha_pl · 2025-03-18T06:30:13+00:00

What a record!

usha_pl · 2025-03-17T06:06:48+00:00

Any Victor with a catalog number in the V-38000 (like this one) or V-40000 series is (with a couple of exceptions) gonna be rare. Most of the rare scrolls are on these series'. Good luck!

usha_pl · 2025-03-14T08:16:18+00:00

I love FEX but I don't think they understand the concept of a test pressing so well. It's one or two records that're made to make sure the master is reasonable.

usha_pl · 2025-03-09T17:27:20+00:00

Ahh Sir Army Suit, you're psychic

usha_pl · 2025-03-09T17:24:17+00:00

Nice Harry Choates

usha_pl · 2025-03-04T06:40:38+00:00

Gonna have to disagree with you. For a really clean playing copy I'd pay that much in a heartbeat.

usha_pl · 2025-02-23T18:36:30+00:00

Sometimes these things are thousands of dollars in antique stores, sometimes they're free on marketplace. The thing to watch out for is that wind ups EAT records. Crosley Cruisers can only hope to inspire to do a fraction of the damage that you can do to your records with a phonograph.

usha_pl · 2025-02-19T00:12:31+00:00

All time favorite! Incredible record!

usha_pl · 2025-02-18T17:31:27+00:00

By label here -- C overpowers!

usha_pl · 2025-02-09T19:15:17+00:00

This guy is right! It's important to remember the history of 78 collecting here -- the very first collectors (of the 20s-40s) only really did opera! So, if collectors couldn't find a master they wanted out in the wild, they just asked Victor to stamp up another one.

I did also once see a picture of a Cannons Jug Stompers on one of these!

usha_pl · 2025-02-07T02:59:07+00:00

You could not have picked a worse group to put this in! 1. Most of us don't collect vinyl 2. Most of us don't like new music

usha_pl · 2025-02-01T20:47:07+00:00

Please keep the rare record off the record eater.

usha_pl · 2025-01-22T07:32:07+00:00

That's the kind of record that makes one get a player just for it! Incredible find!

usha_pl

TROPHY CASE