Unfortunately, Edison records are hit-and-miss with respect to collector interest. Most seem to sell for $1 to $3 each, but there are some scattered among them that are more valuable. There are copies of Harvey Hindermyer’s “Longing for My Dixie Home”/”Hush a Bye Ma Baby” (Edison 80379) online for $5 and under.
Why are Edison records so thick?
The vertical format demanded a perfectly flat surface for best results, so Edison made his Diamond Discs almost one-quarter of an inch (6 mm) thick.
What were Edison records made of?
The Edison Phonograph Company was formed on October 8, 1887, to market Edison’s machine. He introduced the Improved Phonograph by May of 1888, shortly followed by the Perfected Phonograph. The first wax cylinders Edison used were white and made of ceresin, beeswax, and stearic wax.
When were Edison Diamond Discs made?
Diamond Discs were issued from 1912 to 1929. You can determine the decade in which an Edison disc was manufactured by knowing about the two basic labels. From 1912 to mid-1921, Edison relied on “molded labels.” A prepared plate was pressed into the record surface, leaving an engraved impression.
What are old thick records called?
12 inch Albums (LP or Long Playing)
These are thick, black vinyl record albums commonly known as LPs. LP stands for Long Play or Long Playing. Most of the time, LP plays at 33 1/3 rpm.
What are old records made of?
PVC (polyvinyl chloride), the material that vinyl records are made of, is clear in its natural form, allowing records to be manufactured in just about any color imaginable.
What does a phonograph play?
A phonograph disc, or record, stores a replica of sound waves as a series of undulations in a sinuous groove inscribed on its rotating surface by the stylus. When the record is played back, another stylus responds to the undulations, and its motions are then reconverted into sound.
What speed do Edison records play at?
They had a maximum playing time of about 3 minutes at 120 RPM, but around the turn of the century the standard speed was increased to (first 144) and then 160 RPM to improve clarity and volume, reducing the maximum to about 2 minutes and 15 seconds.
What are Edison Diamond Discs made of?
Because the vertical recording method required an absolutely flat surface, the manufacture of Edison discs was quite involved. They were made up of a core of compressed wood flour (later China clay) with a layer of “Condensite” (a phenolic resin varnish) bonded to the surface on which the recording was engraved.
How much is an Edison phonograph worth?
First introduced by Thomas Edison in the 1870s, the typical cylinder is black or blue and about four inches long and two inches in diameter. Most of them are worth less than $5, but some can be worth a $100 or more. Cylinders that are brown, pink, green or orange, or bigger than two inches, can be worth up to $200.
How much is an old phonograph worth?
At auction, similar phonographs have sold in the $2,000-$3,000 price range. A dealer specializing in collectible phonographs might ask $5,000-$7,000 for this model, in excellent original condition.
Are 78 records thick?
78 RPM records are made of thick and brittle shellac, which is highly breakable and causes edges to easily chip.
What was Thomas Edison’s favorite song?
“Heart” songs were a staple of the Edison catalog, especially since Thomas A. Edison himself professed these to be his favorite type of music.
How do you play a wax cylinder?
When a handle is turned, the cylinder rotates and also moves very slowly along. The stylus pushes into the wax and, when the cylinder is rotated, cuts a groove. The stylus also moves up and down very slightly as it vibrates with the sound and so the wax now contains a recording of the sound in the groove.
When did Records leave mainstream?
In 1988, the compact disc surpassed the gramophone record in popularity. Vinyl records experienced a sudden decline in popularity between 1988 and 1991, when the major label distributors restricted their return policies, which retailers had been relying on to maintain and swap out stocks of relatively unpopular titles.
