posted on April 9, 2003 07:57:58 AM new
Hi, All! I hang around here, in the shadows so-to-speak, just checking out what the latest news is...but now I'll emerge as I have a question for any music 'afficionados' who may also be lurking here.
As my turntable no longer works, I'm selling off the family's collection of records, which include some pretty old RCA Victor album sets (10" & 12" - 78's) dating back to the 40's. These do not appear to be vinyl; they are not 'pliable' like the more recent records I've been listing.
My question: What do I call these in my listing?
Any insight to these old beauties would be greatly appreciated!
posted on April 9, 2003 10:14:16 AM new
They are a harder version of vinyl and might be hard wax.
Saerch "old records" @ google.com and you will have enough reading material to last a couple days. Most have from 0 to modest value.
posted on April 9, 2003 10:24:42 AM new
Search through Ebay completed items for 78's and you will probably find similar or exact records to see how they were described and how much interest was generated from the ads.
Some do well, others do not. They do take more care in packaging than lps so I try to steer clear of them. I have over 1,000 in storage and am trying to decide if I should just chunk them or try to list them myself. I bought two tables full for $5 at a local auction and then couldn't decide what to do with them
posted on April 9, 2003 11:13:00 AM new
Thanks alldings & lindajean!
I will search both of your suggestions and see if these are worth listing...or not. They are very old classical collections, and I do hope they find homes where they are truly appreciated.
posted on April 9, 2003 01:09:19 PM new
1940's? Very Old?!?
Maybe I should just lie down and die right now as I might just be prehistoric....
"Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword. It both boldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind. And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. Rather, the citizenry, infused with fear and blinded by patriotism, will offer up all of their rights unto the leader and gladly so. How do I know? For this is what I have done. And I am Caesar."
- Julius Caesar
posted on April 9, 2003 04:14:22 PM new
I might add that if you check them out and they aren't doing too well now, and you have a place to keep them for a while, I would do so. Even if they are not a "hot" item today they might be tomorrow.
In my 4 years of selling on Ebay I can't tell you how many times I have thrown away things only to find them selling great 6 months or a year down the line.
posted on April 9, 2003 10:44:24 PM new
And, Lindajean, holding onto them is a good idea!
I'm running them all, as fast as I can list them, but what doesn't draw interst I'll hold onto. There are a lot of old goodies among this collection, and had I a player I would keep them for my own pleasure. Everything from the classics to Iron Butterfly. What a mix! Ah, and what memories!
posted on April 9, 2003 10:50:24 PM new
Make the rounds of a Saturday garage sale and I bet you can round one up for about $25. I bought 3 before I gave in and bought a really good Pioneer turntable for $195. It is now hooked up through my entertainment center and my old records never sounded so good.
Also, the home cd recorders (not the computer ones, but the stand-alone Phillips) cleans these up and makes them sound as good on CD as the new recordings do!
That is my hobby now. Save what I love, record what I like, and sell the rest
Edited to add: I know the computer cd makers work, but I had recorded several hundred through the computer before I bought my Phillips and there is just no comparing the quality. The Phillips cleans them up as it goes and the quality is equal to purchased cd's.
posted on April 9, 2003 11:38:32 PM new
Where does one find a turntable these days, or for that matter, a home CD recorder?
I live in the boondocks of southern Utah, and Las Vagas is the nearest 'city' to me. Does a Circuit City carry items like this?
I know, I probably sound like a real 'hick', but it has been a few years since I've lived in a city, and electronics/technology has changed so much it is hard to keep up with it when a 'city' is 200 miles away.
Thanks for the in-put, Lindajean. I've really felt a tug when shipping some of these wonderful old instrumental albums, from my Dad's collection, to my winning bidders. Glad they've found a good home...but I miss the music from my childhood...
posted on April 10, 2003 05:34:16 AM new
hey Lindajean - what Phillips cd recorder do you have? I bought one when they first came out because many of Hawaiian records just never were released on CD. I put them on my Phillips (a bought a dual one) and it records every singe pop and hiss in the record - it drives me crazy. I'm wondering if I should upgrade.
posted on April 10, 2003 08:40:57 AM new
I bought the cheaper version that is single tray. It is mainly for analog recording which is what I bought it for. When I want to copy a cd I just do that through my computer.
I have had it for about 18 months, but even the marginal albums which I toss rather than sell record great. Maybe it is because it was made for analog? There is a plug in the back for digital recording, but I don't use that part.
As far as where to buy these. I bought mine at Best Buy. Sears also carries them. You can buy from both companies on line. The older ones I found at garage sales also play well but did not work for recording my records as the output was poor.
I bought a cheaper $100 turntable the first time around and all the records skipped. That was why I bought the older versions. But, my daughter bought a Pioneer for $199 and everything played great. I found out it has something to do with the weight of the arm on the player so I purchased the better one and have no problems now.
posted on April 11, 2003 09:00:20 PM new
To all of you for for your input... A great big THANKS!
I'm off to locate an Lp-to-CD recorder. To me it will be well worth the drive to Las Vegas (200+ miles) to save some of these wonderful old LPs from my father's collection...before they are sold. (Now I'm, hoping they DON'T sell!)
posted on April 11, 2003 09:58:59 PM new
If you do come to Vegas, we bought the Phillips CD recorder at Ultimate Electronics. They have them at Best Buy but we only paid $149 for our single drawer one.
posted on April 12, 2003 04:44:25 AM new
I have some old 78's that are sets in books (classical mostly). I was also given a box full of 1960's albums by my uncle in superb condition. Was think of selling them at one time, but have decided to keep them. I came across a stereo complete with turntable that a friend is willing to give me. It's huge (the kind that is a cabinet). Now, where in my EBay house am I going to put the thing? Hmmm.
posted on April 12, 2003 05:17:21 PM new
I had no luck selling 45's that were passed on to me by family.
I recently received a big victrola with several fat albums full of records. These things are old. One says, "White Christmas, the new song recorded by Bing Crosby."
Didn't mean to misdirect the thread. Good luck on your records!
posted on April 14, 2003 03:07:30 PM new
We had our great-aunt's collection, from the 20s through the 40s, 78s, all popular music. I've sold some, have more to sell.
I went through them all and catalogued them on my computer by label, then by orchestra and/or featured vocalist. In my "spare" time (during TV commercials)!, I looked for patterns and sold some of the records for maybe $3 - $6 each by grouping in twos or threes by vocalist or orchestra, etc.
I also listed, when given on the label, the hotel which was the home of the orchestra or the dance ballroom where it played, etc. There are people who collect memorabilia from hotels, as we all know. . . .
And one was of a song called "Kewpie Doll," which I double listed in dolls as well as records, and it was bought for between 15 and 20 dollars by a doll collector to display with her Kewpies. Never know! I always look for the cross-collectible opportunities.
And I wiped them off with soapy water and a soft rag, then carefully dried them off, too. Lots of grime came out that way. And the scratches show up better (be sure to mention any damage, of course).
I was surprised they didn't sell for more, but with the advent of new record players which will play 78s, they could well come into their own again. I'm debating whether to hang onto the rest or let them go.
It's a pain to ship, though! Extra padding because these old shellac resin records are brittle.
posted on April 14, 2003 03:14:15 PM new
Shipping is the main reason I am keeping my old records. Some things just aren't worth the worry. I figure someday I'll have a garage sale and unload them at that time. Lord knows there is enough stuff in this house to hold multiple garage sales.
Cheryl