Which records can I play?

[PeterPoggi]

Good morning everyone, Another obvious amateur question.   I'm psyched that I've gotten my Victor Credenza working, and I'm visiting thrift stores and antique malls looking for the "right" 78s to buy and play.  There's the obvious, in that The Beatles weren't recording in the 30's 🙂.   I've learned that the thick 1/4" Edisons are NOT for my machine. I've also learned to look for the Victor "batwing" and "scroll" labels, and the "VE" stamp on the runoff area.  Other than that, are there any other physical characteristics that indicate whether a given 78 disc is appropriate for my Orthophonic?

 

[CurtA]

Since there are literally millions of 78s issued on thousands of different labels, it is easier to say which records you can't play, than those you can.  The absolute majority of records (10" 78s - Victor, Columbia, Brunswick, Gennett, OKEH, Vocallion, Zonophone, HMV and most other brands) are all playable.  If there is a date on the records before 1933, you are generally OK for acoustically recorded shellac records.  

 

"Normal" (common) 78s are lateral cut and play with steel needles, vertical cut or hill and dale records are not normally found, but it is good to study the different record types and get to know them by label and by sight.  Typically, vertical cut records have grooves that appear closer together than lateral cut records.

 

You already know Edison DD records are not playable with steel needles and some early Pathe records which are vertical cut, need a sapphire stylus and a reproducer that can be rotated to play them.  Not all Pathe records are vertical cut, however, and those can be played.   There are several other brands that produced vertical cut records, but for the most part you are unlikely to run into them, except  through collectors...  

 

Here are a couple of resources for reference:

http://old78s.com/78rpm_label_gallery.php

https://78rpm.com   (Nauck's record auctions)

https://78rpm.club/78rpm-record-labels/

http://early78s.uk

http://www.littlewonderrecords.com

https://centuriesofsound.com

http://www.dismuke.org   (24hr 1920s-30s music)

http://www.mgthomas.co.uk   (British record labels, bands and downloadable MP3 files)

 

MP3s:

http://www.mgthomas.co.uk/Soundfiles/British Dance/Savoy Orpheans/Savoy Orpheans - Hop Skip.mp3

http://www.mgthomas.co.uk/Soundfiles/British Dance/Ray Starita/Ray Starita - Crazy Rhythm.mp3

http://www.mgthomas.co.uk/Soundfiles/British Dance/Alfredo/Alfredo - Turn On The Heat.mp3

Edited June 19, 2022 by CurtA
Added MP3s

[PeterPoggi]

Wow.. fantastic! Again, thank you. 

[CurtA]

I added some sample MP3s to my previous post...

Edited June 19, 2022 by CurtA