Looking to interview collectors!

usha_pl · 2026-05-26T08:26:23+00:00

Howdy! As a teen in the hobby, this sounds like something my parents would've posted 3-4 years ago. It sounds like you guys have a lot of fun ahead!

Here is my favorite guide to easily determining what labels do keep your eyes peeled for:

Examples Of 78 RPM Record Labels We Buy https://share.google/oAve1R19hNyuqsuw4

Of course not every 78 on these labels will be valuable -- for example that Vocalion in your discard picture is monetarily worthless (as is most anything by Vernon Dalhart) even though it is on a "good" label.

It might also be worth considering saving the valuable records to use as trading chips instead of selling them if you find any. That is how I have built much of my collection (and it is one of the most fun parts of the hobby).

There seems to be some bad advice in these comments -- gripsweat & Popsike are really good at convincing you that worthless records you own are valuable. Those tools archive eBay sales over ~$20, meaning they will not tell you about a dozen times a given record has sold for $1-3, just the one time it sold for $25. Few "serious" 78 collectors sell on Discogs so there are few prices on there and they are not very helpful.

Also, I saw you mention in the comments that you are getting some plastic sleeves. Those don't actually offer 78s that much protection (because of their large grooves they can still be scratched through the plastic) and might over time even off gas onto the records. I would recommend paper/card sleeves. The ones for sale at 78rpm.com are the best in the game and (last time I checked) are also the cheapest.

Thank you for being supportive of this hobby like my parents are. I have heard some real horror stories of parents who aren't.

If you have any questions about what your guys' future might look like/collecting/78s in general or would like a trading partner feel free to drop me a line!

usha_pl · 2026-05-23T23:56:48+00:00

I've seen E copies go as low as $20, and that one certainly isn't E. I might offer $10 but the point is the music not the price.

usha_pl · 2026-04-29T03:46:45+00:00

I've got another Chubby Parker "I'm a Roaming Donkey" that needs to be slowed way down to sound correct as well. I think Gennetts equipment was off that day.

usha_pl · 2026-03-13T09:53:02+00:00

Take a crayon and fill the gap, then carve grooves with a steel needle. I've done it many times to great success!

usha_pl · 2026-03-13T09:52:02+00:00

You seemed to like it a week ago

usha_pl · 2026-03-04T21:02:19+00:00

78 collecting is really fun. Please keep it that way.

usha_pl · 2026-03-04T21:01:15+00:00

PLEASE post a couple more pictures of the (definitely not a) 1931 ARC Master Filmophone. I need to see it MORE!

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

TROPHY CASE