[78-L] Master Sound System Discs - How to clean (if possible).

[David Lennick]

My guess is that it's a dub of a rare 78 that someone had cut privately. I see 
these occasionally....I have a Leadbelly on a similar disc (blue label, but 
without the studio info on yours) and have no idea whether it's copied from ARC 
or Library of Congress recordings or what the source might be.

Without seeing the disc, I can't say what the stuff might be that's on the 
surface, and some preservationists suggest that cleaning it could reveal cracks 
in the lacquer or cause damage and that you're wise to get a transfer of it first.

dl

On 11/15/2013 5:23 PM, Doug Duncan wrote:
> I recently bought a few discs from a friend's sale list.
>
> Two of the discs were Master Sound System discs with a plain blue label
> on each side ' Manufactured by M.S.S. Recording Co Ltd. Colnbrook,
> Bucks, England. This is a direct Recording. Play with a modern
> Lightweight pickup or use a steel trailer needle 78rpm 50 ~'
>
> The labels are also annotated in handwriting.
>
> Sippie Wallace -    Lazy Man Blues b/w The Flood Blues    1009
>
> Sippie Wallace - Special Delivery Blues b/w Jack O' Diamonds    1007
>
> I take these to be lacquer on an aluminium substrate since on one the
> edge of the substrate can be seen and it is non magnetic. Although both
> seem superficially to be in good condition there are a few spots of what
> appear to be crystals. Is this possibly palmetic acid?
> They are large enough to cover several adjacent parts of the groove and
> I am concerned that they are going to damage the stylus if I play as is.
> The pitch of the groove seems quite fine.
>
> So , can the discs be cleaned and if they can with what? In addition to
> the spots of crystals the edges of both discs are generally grubby and
> could use a little cleaning if it can be done without damage. The
> lacquer is not chipped
>
> I am aware that the 'C' word is a subject of much controversy and I
> would like to apologise to the list in advance for opening a can of
> worms but it seems likely that some specific remedy exists or none at all.
>
> Apart from the above, does anyone know how these come to be in
> existance. Are they tests for a legitimate issue of the performances or
> are they a non legal copy that was done on the quiet.
>
> As always, if anyone can shed any light I will be most grateful.
>
> Best Regards,
>
> Doug
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