Just cleaned up my families Victrola, any suggestions?

[Alonzo]

Not sure if anyone has any familiarity with these things, but my family has had a victrola going back at least into the 50's, possibly longer. It looks like this:

http://www.moorestown.com/images/rotate/57.jpg

It may even be the same model as what I have for all I know.

Anyway, I cleaned it all up and just placed an order for 500 needles (they need to be replaced after only 1 use). It all works fine. The problem is that almost everything I have is in polish, as they're my grandmothers records. I even have a few old comedy records, but they're polish as well. I do have a few classical, patriotic and doris day ones as well. Not much I'm interested in though.

Anyone have any suggestions for good 78's? I'm not particularly interested in most 40's and 50 music. 1920's up beat/dance (no idea what it's called) and things like that may be interesting though.

I'd ask a forum dedicated to that, but I fear I may be swamped with things I don't know.

[Buck Laser]

Zo, that thing's from the 1910s or so! Just guessing, but if you want to listen to those old records, you'd probably do better to get a newer turntable, just because the listening qualities will be better. Just guessing, but you could probably find a few replicas of those old records, reproduced from the original masters--possibly cheaper than real originals. But I don't know where to tell you to look.

The lady in the picture is dressed the way my grandma was in 1908, when she married grandpa--only she was younger and prettier.

[Alonzo]

I'm guessing it's from around 1910 to early 1920's, as looking online that's when this design was available. I'm almost certain we weren't the first family with it, as that side of the family is from poland and was very poor in the 10's, 20's and 30's. It's pretty interesting though, you have to crank it before playing a record.

But I actually ordered a new turntable about 2 days ago to replace my old, bottom of the line one. I wasn't looking for it at the time, but coincidentally it does play 78's as well. The thing is, I don't have much desire to play them on a new turntable. Victrola's have their own unique sound and style to them. It seems more fitting to play an old album on one, as I've always heard that music in old movies with similar turntables.

The needles also only cost me 10 bucks for 500, so it's not like it's expensive either.

[Alonzo]

This type of music would be perfect:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/recsradio/radio/B00004RDNO/104-2610259-5450348?volume=6

Go down to #5, called miss annabelle lee. The voice isn't very good, but the music would be great on this system.

[BoogyMan]

I just did a quick search of eBay for '78 records' and found bunches on interesting titles for sale.

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&satitle=78+records&category0=


You might also try:

http://www.78rpmrecord.com/
http://www.primeaumusic.com/Records/78s.htm
http://www.archive.org/details/78rpm
http://www.jabw.demon.co.uk/


Lots of interesting sources to be found on Google.


I also found a phonograph webring here:

http://w.webring.com/t/Phonograph


What did you finally decide to purchase for you new turntable btw?

[lily]

Zo, I'm not sure if you're into going to antique stores, but you'll find some there. I love looking through them.

[Alonzo]

I didn't even think of that. I'll have to try it. There are a bunch of record stores around here, but they are filled with stuff from the 70's-90's. Not much, if any, 78's. At least that way I probably won't waste much money if I buy stuff I end up not wanting. That's more likely to happen if I buy stuff online.

What did you finally decide to purchase for you new turntable btw?

This one: audio technica at-pl120 turntable (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00012EYNG/ref=pd_cp_e_title/104-2610259-5450348?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_r=1GQEJCH75T812EYGMS5P&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=250314601&pf_rd_i=B000NOAY6I)

The only major downside is it's manual. But it has speed control and can play records in reverse (So I can hear all those satanic messages I've been warned about :D). It got very good reviews, and seems a much better buy than the stuff I was looking at for 50 or 60 less. And spending enough to get to the next level was more than I wanted to spend.

It does play 78's, but I'm not interested in getting the best sound quality out of the 78's. I'm interested in making a 1920's record sound like it's being played in the 1920's, which is why I'm unlikely to use it much for 78's.