78's How do I play them?

Subject: 78's How do I play them?
From: Partridge
Date: 19 Dec 05 - 10:13 AM

Hi, My Dad died a couple of weeks ago and I have inherited loads of 78's and my turntable plays 33 1/3 and 45's but not 78's. Any ideas. I'm in west Yorkshire UK - is there any one close enough to make a copy of some of them onto cassette? (there are only three I really want copied)
Thanks for any help in advance

Pat x

Subject: RE: 78's How do I play them?
From: GUEST,Fullerton
Date: 19 Dec 05 - 10:58 AM

Sorry to hear of your loss. Deepest condolences.

You may want to check that the three tracks you wish to be transfered are not available on CD.

Lots of old 78's have been transfered to digital, and many quite obscure recordings are available. This may be cheaper than copying them professionally.

I acquired a CD version of an old (broken) family 78 recently. Hope your quest is just as succesful. (Strauss' Nun's Chorus by Annie Freund.)

Just out of curiosity, what are the tracks you wish to keep?

PS Make sure the records are stored vertically. i.e. Not laid flat on top of each other.

Good Luck

Fullerton.

Subject: RE: 78's How do I play them?
From: open mike
Date: 19 Dec 05 - 11:29 AM

there is a mudcatter who does this.
i think that katlaughing may have had
his transfer some material.

why not transfer it to C.D. in stead
of cassette? and skip a generation or two
of media....

i think he may be in Canada...

i have two turntables...

but need to install cartridges/needles.

you might actually find a turntable or
record player at a second hand store or
thrift store. they are becoming more popular now
with the d.j.'s who use them..even 78's

i have seen turntables on e-bay.
(sorry to hear about your dad)

Subject: RE: 78's How do I play them?
From: Effsee
Date: 19 Dec 05 - 11:29 AM

Pat, if you don't find what your after on CD, ask your local community radio station (if you have one) for help.

Subject: RE: 78's How do I play them?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 19 Dec 05 - 11:29 AM

you can still buy turntables inc 78 rpm.

have a look here:


http://www.dreamdirect.co.uk/prodview.asp?sku=22849&GUID={943C34A8-84E0-4B3A-84B8-0D775F68296F}&mc=X00402&TRK=26

Subject: RE: 78's How do I play them?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Dec 05 - 11:33 AM

The Catter in question is wilbyhillbilly, and he did some things for me as well. Suggest PM to ask if he =does 78's. Or maybe someone will look up the old thread for the link to his site.

Other alternative-- run around the disk 78 times per second holding a needle to the disk with a line in to your ear. You'll need a line out running from your other ear to the tape deck to catch it.... better hang the deck overhead on a swivel, so you don't get tangled up.

~S~

Subject: RE: 78's How do I play them?
From: Partridge
Date: 19 Dec 05 - 11:35 AM

Many thanks,

The tracks I want are Gene Autry singing "Buttons and Bows" the other side is " A boy from Texas .....a girl from Tennasee" and the other one is a version of rudolph the red nosed reindeer - can't remember who does it.

Thanks for the condolences on my Dad - he was a fit as a lop until he went into hospital.......its all been very sad.

Pat x

Subject: RE: 78's How do I play them?
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 19 Dec 05 - 11:49 AM

My sympathy as well Partridge!
Gene Autry was also the original singer of Rudolph.
There are free sound editing programs that can be downloaded from the internet such as Audacity and WavePad. Once you have these installed you could spin the disks at a speed slower than 78 rpm sending it to your sound card line in jack. Then use the sound editor to increase the speed back up. This should bring the timing and pitch back to where it should be. Then if you have a cd burner you could re-record it.
                Sandy

Subject: RE: 78's How do I play them?
From: GUEST,Fullerton
Date: 19 Dec 05 - 05:53 PM

click here for all the poop on "Rudolph"

click here for very cheap ($5.98) Autry version on amazon

click here for a more detailed chronology of Rudolph

Maybe its the Burl Ives version that you remember?

Subject: RE: 78's How do I play them?
From: frogprince
Date: 19 Dec 05 - 09:07 PM

However, if I'm remembering right, the regular needles for 78 rpm were a lot thicker than for 45 and 33; we had at least one portable on which you could flip down the right needle for each speed. I think the smaller needle would give you a lot less than what fidelity the 78 disk had, and would carve away the modulation in the grooves a lot faster than the right needle.

Subject: RE: 78's How do I play them?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 19 Dec 05 - 09:09 PM

You're right.

Subject: RE: 78's How do I play them?
From: Suffet
Date: 19 Dec 05 - 11:24 PM

In the USA you can go to a Salvation Army Thrift Store and you are likely to find some old 3-speed portable phonographs for very little money, usually $10 each or less. Do they also have such shops in the UK?

--- Steve

Subject: RE: 78's How do I play them?
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Dec 05 - 11:44 PM

Partridge If you PM me your email address I will gladly send you an MP3 of Gene Autry singing (Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer)I think I have the other two also and if I do I will also send them as an MP3.I can also transfer to cassette all your 78s and the only charge would be for the tapes and mailing costs,but at the price of postage now a days mailing your 78s to me would cost quite a bunch.Your decision.Louie Roy

Subject: RE: 78's How do I play them?
From: Louie Roy
Date: 19 Dec 05 - 11:48 PM

I am the guest that sent the last message my cookie was deleted for some unknown reason Louie Roy

Subject: RE: 78's How do I play them?
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Dec 05 - 12:51 AM

MP3 is availabe - free - through multiple web resources

LimeWire-
E-Mule-
Newsgroups

Try a search through google.ch, or .cz, or .az thousands of servers have already stored the data you seek to archive. And, you don't even need to tcp/ftp.

Subject: RE: 78's How do I play them?
From: GUEST,Rumncoke
Date: 20 Dec 05 - 05:30 AM

I recorded quite a few fairly modern 78's on an old player which did have the right speed - but the records were in a bad condition - a trick which might help is to, first wash the record - they can get really dirty - then make up a strong solution of washing up liquid and coat the recorded area of the record LIGHTLY before playing - sometimes the second playing is better than the first as more dirt is dislodged.

When recorded either throw the record away or wash off all the detergent, dry the record off and store away only after airing to ensure no dampness is left on it. Putting the record back in the sleeve along with the detergent layer - just don't.

I found this takes out some of the unwanted extra noise and can even overcome small scratches, or at least change it from a jump to a click.

Don't use expensive stylii for this - and using modern ones on the old heavy records just cuts a furrow - not advisable. Do it once if the words, not the recording is the important thing. Take the weight off the stylus so it just plays rather than ploughs.

Anne

Subject: RE: 78's How do I play them?
From: Tannywheeler
Date: 20 Dec 05 - 10:11 AM

WOW!!! The stuff you folks know!! Y'all never cease to amaze me.   Tw

Subject: RE: 78's How do I play them?
From: Partridge
Date: 20 Dec 05 - 10:30 AM

Thanks all, I'm looking into the possiblilty of the MP3 route. As well as the Salvation Army.

thanks again

Pat x

Subject: RE: 78's How do I play them?
From: GUEST,Jim Ward
Date: 21 Dec 05 - 06:14 AM

Don't worry about damaging 78's by playing them with an LP stylus. These records were made to be played with steel needles in soundboxes that tracked at six ounces or more. Any slight damage a .007 mil LP stylus would do, tracking at a couple of grams, would be to the very bottom of the groove. A proper truncated 78 sylus (usually .028-.035 mil) would ride on the groove wall above this. If you do play them with an LP stylus the sound will be very thin, but on a badly worn record it may actually sound better as it will not pick up all the damage to the walls of the grooves.

Subject: RE: 78's How do I play them?
From: a gud ole bwoy
Date: 21 Dec 05 - 10:15 AM

I don't think in the above posts anyone suggested you play them on a wind-up gramophone. Get the authentic sound. Museums usually have lists of collectors. There's is nothing like hearing the real thing. Getting up every couple of minutes to change the record and of course the needle, not to mention adjusting the sock so that your eardrums wern't blasted to bits. Ah! the good old days.