[78-L] Record Torture

[David Weiner]

Moral - don't keep Lombardos in a cold, drippy garage & don't sleep in the
subway, darlin'!

Dave Weiner

-----Original Message-----
From: 78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com
[mailto:78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com] On Behalf Of Steve Williams
Sent: Friday, January 06, 2012 4:12 PM
To: 78-l at klickitat.78online.com
Subject: [78-L] Record Torture

I happened to encounter a mystery just the other day, I opened a thin box of
about 25 78s, mostly Guy Lombardo laminated Columbias, and a couple of red
and black wax Microphones.  The Montreal pressings are fine, but every one
of the Columbias is incredibly fragile, they were breaking and crumblng just
by holding them by the edge and two thirds towards the spindle, they can be
broken easily between thumb and two fingers, with brown dust falling out of
the core.  There's no chance to play them.  I've never heard of this before
but I haven't seen these records for years, and using visual recollection of
when I was emptying out the garage for the Move, it's POSSIBLE they were
kept buried in the garage near a leaking bottle of antifreeze.  That's all I
can say.  I've encountered noisy HMVs, I bought a box of apparently unplayed
Paul Robeson and Noel Cowards, including South African pressings, all in the
original sleeves, from Bee-Bee's in St.Lawrence Market, they were all noiser
than the US Victors even when the latter had normal wear.

Steve Williams  ..