[78-L] 78rpm record collecting - a new Guide for Beginners - why not?

[Adam Miller]

I was wondering....

Why isn't there a new one of these?  It can't be that hard
to put together - can it?

Think for a moment.  A quick search on Amazon for
"Introduction Stamp Collecting" finds a long list of titles
- even a "Stamp Collecting for Dummies".  Now I admit there
are a lot more philatelists than 78rpm collectors (myself
included in both groups), but there are many similarities,
especially in the amount of published research representing
the scope for specialist study.

I re-read Semeonoff's Record Collecting - A Guide for
Beginners (1951) last night, which gave rise to the question
above.  I felt it struck the right level for the intended
reader, but was now terribly dated, especially in its
listing of artists and genres to collect.

I've a couple of other recent books on Record Collecting,
including one that noted '78s' on the cover, but they tend
to cover them in a page or two and then focus on 45s and
LPs.

What I think is needed is a volume just on 78s that would be
useful for answering all those questions that beginners have
(many of which end up on this forum, often repeatedly). 
Care of 78s, stylii, recording to CD, packing and shipping,
buying & selling online, rough value guide, collecting areas
or themes, dating records, useful books & societies etc etc.
 The book would need to be cheap enough to encourage local
libraries to hold, or beginners to buy online.

[You have to imagine a 20 minutes pause here while I thought
up the following contents list]

1. The pleasures of collecting 78rpm records
2. A brief history of the 78rpm record
3. The range of record types
 'Standard'
 Speeds
 Laminated etc 
 Oversize Holes
 Early items
 Super-size 
 Miniatures
 Postcards, cigarette cards, other gimmickry
 Flexible, both card and transparent
 Vertical cut
 Acetates
 etc
4. Common collecting themes
 The Music style
  Jazz/Swing
  Classical Vocal
  Blues
  Country & Western
  Orchestral
  Rock & Roll
  Music-hall
  etc
 The Artist
  Caruso
  Vernon Dalhart
  Billy Williams 
  etc
 The issuing Company
  Victor
  Berliner
  Vogue
  Fonotipia
  etc
 The record itself
  Picture Discs
  Unusual labels
  Kiddie Records
  6" and below
  etc
 Record sleeves
5. Obtaining records
 Dealers
 Garage sales
 The Sallies
 Second-hand shops
 Local household lot auctions
 Ebay &c
6. Handling & Cleaning
7. Packaging & Storage
 Mailing safely
 Storage Conditions
 Sleeves
 Cabinetry
8. Cataloguing
 Spreadsheet vs database 
9. Equipment for playing your records
 Gramophones
 Steel, trailer & fibre needles
 Earlier 3-speeds
 Modern turntables
 Cartridges & stylii
 Recording your shellac
10. Disposal
11. Some famous collectors
12. Clubs & Societies
13. A valuation 'ready reckoner'
14. A basic bibliography
15. Glossary
Index

What does the list think - both about why there isn't an up
to date version of Semeonoff, and about what could be in
such a book?

Cheers,

Adam Miller
Wellington
New Zealand
www.78rpm.net.nz