[78-L] Frequently Asked (or otherwise clueless) Questions

[Rodger Holtin]

The very presence of your question is music to the ears of many an old shellac addict.  Your mom nad dad probably told you there's no such thing as a stupid question when you're trying to learn something, so you did the right thing.
 
This list has an archive, so you can pick a topic of interest and give that a search and see wht pops up.  I've been amazed lately at the numbers of things I've found just by searching with Google on some seemingly obscure 78-related subject.  I've seen a lot of mis-information, too, but when you find something that's of interest, you can ask here what the real story is and we wil have a field day skewering the poor dope who posted some bad information on the internet, and you can learn by watching what happens.
 
You should buy the Victor Label Book by Sherman & Nauck.  It will tell you about the Monarchs.  I would guess the dimple at the end of the side is damage - "needle drop" as they are known are most common at the end of a selection than anywhere else on a disc.  Play a few discs on a gramophone and you'll find out why that's true.

Rodger

For Best Results use Victor Needles.

.

--- On Wed, 1/25/12, Rod Brown <raudiobrown at gmail.com> wrote:


From: Rod Brown <raudiobrown at gmail.com>
Subject: [78-L] Frequently Asked (or otherwise clueless) Questions
To: 78-l at klickitat.78online.com
Date: Wednesday, January 25, 2012, 4:04 AM


>
> Professors,


I'm wondering if there is an on-line site to visit with basic beginners'
questions about collecting 78s. I ask because I often feel like asking my
little elementary queries of 78-L list members is too like asking Mr.
Hawking to help me with my long division homework. As much as I hesitate to
flatter anyone to that degree, asking questions can be a little
intimidating for this newbie.

Since I doubt there is such an on-line resource, I guess I should be asking
about what a 78 Collector's basic library should include. I know lots of
money can be spent on books, but what titles would any of you nominate for
a basic collector?

This past weekend, I was trying to choose some 78s to take home out of a
batch of about 1,500 of them. I was never more acutely aware of how little
I know about this whole complex endeavor (I can't call it merely a
'hobby'). I'd have loved to know even a little more than I do, to help me
make decent decisions.

In any case, I added what might be the oldest record in my small
collection. That's a Monarch Record with a black label. Mainspring Press
seems to describe this as the "straight-line" design. The number (both on
the label and in the matrix) is 1799. The music is a sextette called "Tell
Me Pretty Maiden" from "Floradora." The label is recessed. Nothing at all
on the back of this one. I haven't seen much on the 'net about the Monarch
name and why, when, or for how long it was used.

The record has a deep dimple exactly on the last groove, that seems as
though it might have been put there intentionally, as an alarm: clunk,
clunk, clunk means "The record is over; please remove the tone arm." Or is
this more likely a pressing accident, or later damage?

Guess I'll timorously hit 'send.' Thanks for any wisdom you have the time
to share.

Rod
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