[78-L] It's hard being loyal to 78-l

[Steven C. Barr]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <krabgrass at aol.com>
> I'm mostly a digest reader, offering a question or comment periodically. I 
> bought and watched Leah Biel's DVD on record collectors and saw myself in 
> many of the folks interviewed. Couple that viewing with the recent spat of 
> racist, and dogmatic self-congratulatory postings by some of those filmed 
> reminds me that collectors like the general population include ass holes 
> and saints. The saints appear to be losing.
> Collectors tolerate each other because no one else knows what we're 
> talking about. However, please discuss more about groove width, Enrico 
> Dylan's vocal range, V+ vs. E--, or anything but how wonderful you are to 
> put down Michael Jackson's life.
> Compare it with your life. One surrounded by an accumulation of recordings 
> you've never heard, won't hear, and still defend when your spouse and 
> family want some time or to be heard. I know, I've hidden behind my stacks 
> of shellac long enough to have moved from "this will all be worth 
> something when we need money," to, "it has an intrinsic historical value 
> that I'm preserving," or, from Capitalist to Public Servant.
> Again, I ramble. I'm shamed by some comments on the list lately. Not 
> because they abuse free speech--say what you want. I'm shamed because I 
> hope for more decency from the members. I guess we're just proving Nerds 
> need a locker room too.
>
Well...I'm not exactly sure where/how I fit here?!

I primarily collect DATA ABOUT 78rpm phonorecords...I do enjoy playing most 
of them,
but I keep meeting setbacks in my quest to create a working "78 deck" using 
an older
"record player" which in turn uses an n8-3(+/-)d needle/"stylus!" This 
involves cutting
the output leads from the ceramic cartridge, and soldering them to a 
"mini-phone plug"
which can then be plugged into the "Line In" jack of my computer. Simple, 
right? Well,
NOT so simple when either neve damage in my right arm...or possibly a minor 
stroke...
has robbed me of the manual dexterity I once could have used to complete 
such an
assignment! I am, in theory, about 90-99% complete with this...but plugging 
the plug
into my "Line In" jack produces *SFA* in the way of audible results...and I 
can't
find my multi-meter I need to check the continuity!!

Note that I currently own 55,050 (my estimate) 78rpm phonorecords...which 
reside
in about 400 or so milk boxes. I am SLOWLY but surely listing these in MS 
Access...
one milk box at a time! I keep running across 78's which I should DEARLY 
love to
listen...but I'm waiting for my US Social Security benefit to augment my CPP 
money
so I have just a LITTLE money left after paying rent and bills!

Sadly, I suspect the "outside world" regards me as just another useless old 
codger
costing them extra health-care money and thus running up their tax 
bills...?!

BUT...the 78-L e-mail list is one of the very few remaining places where my
knowledge of 78's...the companies that pressed them...and the artists who
are heard thereon...actually is USEFUL to somebody/ies!!

Comment ca va?

...stevenc