In April 2008, I picked up over 4,000 78 rpm records. While there is a wide mish mosh of different era records in this collection, I have picked through some of the Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, and other bands. I have also picked up only my 5th Brunswick "remake" Bing Crosby record. These records appear to be remakes of his early stuff, ranging from about 1929, when he was singing with a male vocal group, to his early crooning days. I also have, interestingly enough, one from the late 20's, I believe, a Victor Orthophonic of that group with Bing Crosby singing "Mississippi Mud". It's kind of a jazzy vocal record, and, they are trying to sound like "darkies". "When the sun goes down, the tide goes out, the darkies gather 'round, and, they all begin to shout.. Hey! Hey! Uncle Doug! It's a treat to beat your feet on the Mississippi mud. It's a treat to beat your feet on the Mississippi mud...."

I'm more amazed every day at the different recordings made. I have also been discovering a few minor pieces done by vocalists, and, using big bands for background instrumental. In the next few days, I'll pull some of those out, and, list a couple of the titles, company, and, matrix number.

I have weeks ahead of me to go through this collection of records to see what exactly is there, but, I, personally, am kind of excited about the project. In there, of course, are a number of record sets by some of the popular big bands and vocalists. Just as a matter of light interest, I picked up a Bing Crosby set of religious songs, some of it to a somewhat jazzy swing.

Well, I have a lot to learn, but, I thought you folks might be interested in hearing about this find....

How did I find these old records?

In a very small newspaper article last Sunday, it was stated that our last big record, CD, DVD dealer needed to get rid of about 10,000 78's and a very large pile of 45 rpm extras.

Well, I high-tailed it out there on Wednesday of this week. In the article, it said it was primarily big band era stuff. Someone had already gotten there and picked up about 1,000. I packed up about 2,500 of them that day. Then, on Saturday, I picked up close to another 2,000 of theme.

It's going to take me at least several weeks to go through the boxes of records..

Actually, I have several means of playing the records. I have a more deluxe child's record player for my first test playings. For actual enjoyment, I usually use one of my tube-type Newcomb transcription record players with the GE magnetic cartridge. These machines have variable speed, which helps for the different speed variations.

I keep my favorite records in four-drawer filing cabinets, most in jackets to protect them. I have my big band and Spike Jones records in their own drawer. I'm trying to get enough records by each band, vocal group, etc., to make it worth while to put them on a list according to artist. Haven't done any of that yet. I keep most of my rock 'n roll 78's in their own drawer. I collect many types of records, and, am trying to keep them in their own dedicated areas. I also have many albums of 78's, mostly on open shelves, and, in a few dedicated record cabinets. I also collect LP's, 45's, cylinder records, and, Edison Diamond Disc records. I also have a small handful of late, very rare Edison Needle type lateral 78's, electrically recorded, primarily about 1928. Mostly dance bands, jazz, and some comedy.

Well, I hope this gives you an idea of the monumental task ahead of me... But, I love records, and, as my nickname states, I am "Fanatical Bill" - a music fanatic!

Bill Cahill
St. Petersburg, Florida
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Why I Collect These Things

Jeff Karpinski talks about how to restore and care for 78 rpm records. Now, for those of you who may collect early jazz, vocals, bands, etc., on cylinders, I thought I'd give some easy restoration tips to make listening to cylinders a more pleasant experience.

In this discussion, let's just go into the Edison blue amberol four-minute cylinders that were celluloid in various shades of blue from very light to almost black. The core was comprised of plaster of Paris.

The rotating speed of records and many cylinders was 160 revolutions per minute (rpm's). Two common problems were mold and dirt. While mold quickly destroys the earlier two-minute wax cylinders, it takes mold longer to damage celluloid cylinders. Many times cleaning will restore celluloid cylinders to nearly new condition. Here is the procedure I use:

• I add a mild dish detergent to a bowl of lukewarm water. Never put a cylinder directly under the water as you could easily destroy the plaster of Paris core. Never allow that core to get wet at all unless you are doing a plaster repair.

• I use soft paper towels. I get one paper towel wet. I wring it out real good. I then put several drops of the dish detergent on the towel.

• Hold the cylinder from the inside with your index and middle fingers of your unused hand. Gently but firmly take the wet towel in your other hand. Wipe the cylinder across the grooves in a circular pattern several times. After you finish this, use the non-soapy side of the wet towel to remove as much of the soap as you can.

• Dry the cylinder with the dry towel, gently polishing the record in a circular pattern. This should make the surface much cleaner.

• Another problem with cylinders is warping, usually a combination of the plaster warping and the celluloid shrinking. If you see cracks in the celluloid on either or both ends, the best thing to do is to insert a tiny bit into an electric drill such as a Dremel motor tool with speed control. Drill at a slow speed, because you don't want to overheat the celluloid, which is highly flammable. Drill two or three very small holes through the celluloid, not the plaster. Or, use a razor blade to create another open groove in the edge. This relieves some of the pressure on the shrinking celluloid.

• If the plaster is warped, you can do it in one of two ways. Personally, I use a light grade of sandpaper, and, in a circular motion, lightly sand only the high spots of the plaster. You will need to eyeball it, checking it several times. What you are looking for is a one-inch gap between the edge of the cylinder with the title and the end of the mandrel, the tapered metal cylindrical part on the machine. All cores of cylinders had a matching taper when produced at the factories so records would fit properly.

• The other thing you want is to get the record as straight as you can all the way across to cut down on record bouncing, which produces terrible sounding music. If you are nervous about following these steps, experiment on junk cylinders. The other way, which doesn't work as well, is to purchase a record reamer from one of the cylinder phonograph parts dealers.

I hope this helps you to enjoy your cylinder recordings better.

Bill Cahill
St. Petersburg, Florida
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Why I Collect These Things

Moderator's Note Cylinders were the precursor of flat disk records, used in the early 1900's to record sound for the original Edison phonographs.

Here are a few links about restoring cylinder recordings that complement what Bill has written above:

A Doorway in Time   by Piney Kesting
Digging Up Sound   by Eva Ciabattoni
Exhibitions of Sound: The digital preservation of music   by Mathew Honan
Helping Memories Last a Lifetime   by Precision Audio Restoration
Restoring Old Records - How it's done   by Windyridge Music Hall CDs

George Spink
Moderator - The Palomar
Webmaster - Tuxedo Junction
Los Angeles, California
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I collect records, books, antique radios, televisions, record players, wire recorders, and wind-up phonographs. I enjoy many forms of music, including big bands, early rock n'roll, comedy, home spun, religious, including early gospel, reel-to-reel tapes, cassettes, etc. I also am a historian, of sorts.

I have been interested in the electronics end of my hobbies since about the age of seven, when we first had a TV technician out to fix our family television set. I got to watch him repair the set from the back. It was love at first sight.

My interests grew from there. I was already interested in music. My father was showing me the different types of music availlable. He enjoyed the orchestral music in the evennings played on WJR radio, listening to it on his 1946 Magnavox radio-phonograph. I also heard some big band music, musicals, and, my sisters' favorite, rock n'roll. This would be in the 1950's era.

I the 1967, I started picking up records at antique shops -- including cylinder records, Edison Diamond Disc records, and 78's. I discovered big bands in a bigger way. I used to frequent a big used record store in Detroit called May's Record and Talking Machine Company. May had over 10,000 records on shelves, and on the floor, and on tables. Man, did I love looking through those records!

I continued collecting records. In time, I became interested in radio and phonograph restoration. And, I became interested in the history of music, records, phonographs, and, radio and television.

After I discovered the Internet some years back, I found a new world of goodies to just drool over! Records, record players galore, wind-up phonographs I'd never seen in my life, and, now, places like George's Palomar, Tuxedo Junction, and, other places.

I also have downloaded many radio programs on the internet, and, really enjoy them.

I love helping others on restorations On the history end of thnigs. I am an active member in Alan Voohrees' Antique radio forums, Audio Karma, and a number of others sites. Saving the equipment, and restoring it back to its former glory makes it possible for future generations to know about radio, television, and, record players in an era of tubes, Bing Crosby, Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, Andrews sisters, and, more. I feel this will help keep this valuable history alive for future generations.