How far back - in years - does your collection go?

Realistically, 95% of my music is from the mid 1950's and newer, but I probably have 75 songs from the 1940's, and 40 songs from the 1930's.

This thread was inspired by something DJ Gray said in another thread.

even some Roaring 20's!

I would have to say its back to the late 40's. I was very fortunate that my father and my aunts and uncles all willed their music collections to me when they died because they knew what an addict I was for the old show tunes, the old "torch" singers. The country music when Country Music was good old Western Music.....and all of the old stuff.

Some I can not save and get to the level of quality i need to play, but a lot I can, it's great

Sadly nothing on vinyl that goes back very far (miss my 78s :sqfrown:), but I have way too many oldies from the 1920's (some before that) on up through the 40's in my archived library on CD only. Have no idea on the exact numbers, but I can assure you there is a lot!

Maybe I'll inventory them on a rainy day....some day.

They are there for my own personal enjoyment and I doubt that anything that old would get played, unless I'm doing a gig at a retirement home (yes, I've done one of those before.)

Just out of curiosity how would you go about converting the 'ol 78's to mp3... we have a ton of old music on 78 that my mom sometimes plays on the old victrola.... windup one no less.

Do they even make a player to play those anymore?

I have no idea really what they have but it would be nice to archive it for them...

Just out of curiosity how would you go about converting the 'ol 78's to mp3... we have a ton of old music on 78 that my mom sometimes plays on the old victrola.... windup one no less.

Do they even make a player to play those anymore?

software and audio cards..... there are many options.



ETA: I assumed you still had a turntable.

software and audio cards..... there are many options.

That much I know in fact my EMU has a Phono in with RIAA amp built in... so all I would really need would be a good player and software to convert with... just don't know if they even make a player to play them anymore....

Hell, I got the originals here on the farm -- Grandma and Grandpa saved everything from the bar, including the records from the "jukebox". They did sell the roller wheels from the piano though... :sqembarrassed:

I know I have almost a complete set from one of the old 78 jukeboxes, all printed with the same color labels, and such.

Don't have anything to play them on though... :sqerr:

Just had a funny thought, after reading my own post...


Wonder if CDs will last as long as those old thick 78s... :sqlaugh: :sqwink:

We have some very old Bluegrass tunes on CD that date back to the '20s. There is little call for music this old as most of the people who would be old enough to appreciate it are no longer with us.

Any vinyl may be burned to CD or other medium via puter utilities like Roxio. 78 RPM turntables are available. Just remember that those inexpensive "toy" turntables can offer only so much in the way of tone response.

Yeah I figure'd I'm looking at the Numark TTX USB model... at $399.00 and if I can convince the wife that I will also be able to convert her 33 1/3 collection to CD she might go for it.

The upshot for me atleast is I'll be able to shop for music that just ain't available on CD or for download.

First things first.... I need to confirm my parents still have the records and then catalogue them.

From about 1955 and up. Have a few from the forties such as Perry Como and some big band. I think I have enough.

Don't be trying those old thick 78s on a modern turntable -- it ain't happenin' !

The lightweight aluminum platters can't handle the weight long, and they start to orbit like the Earth :sqerr:


I tried, and I failed. Twice. Two turntables shot.


You need a solid platter, and belt drive for those guys, to handle the wobble of the weight that has shifted over the years...

As far as converting I had most of it converted to either Reel to reel tape, or cassette tape. One of my projects for the future is I just purchased this piece of gear, and I can't remember the name but I run it off the outs on my mixer to this Analog to Digital converter, and then to my External hard drive. I have not used this yet but I'm afraid I will lose so much going from the tape drives through the mixer board and then to the analog to digital converter, that it won't be worth it. even with the software enhancements it destroys the highs.....muffles the lows....But its Something I'm not quitting on yet.......

I had a friend of mine play with one of my Bing Crosby tapes, and you really lose the clarity......again there is not much there to begin with.....

Don't be trying those old thick 78s on a modern turntable -- it ain't happenin' !

The lightweight aluminum platters can't handle the weight long, and they start to orbit like the Earth :sqerr:


I tried, and I failed. Twice. Two turntables shot.


You need a solid platter, and belt drive for those guys, to handle the wobble of the weight that has shifted over the years...


Do ya think something like this would work

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Numark-TTXUSB-USB-Turntable?sku=801567

I wouldn't try it with the thick ones. DD motor, and obviously a cast platter.


Ya might have some luck at first, like I did, but you'll end up destroying the turntable. And, probably the record, by using modern day stylus, which is thinner and harder, and wears on the old wax...

I wouldn't try it with the thick ones. DD motor, and obviously a cast platter.


Ya might have some luck at first, like I did, but you'll end up destroying the turntable. And, probably the record, by using modern day stylus, which is thinner and harder, and wears on the old wax...


Any sugestions that wont break the bank?

Can you still get belt drive turntables? How about a anti-slip pad on the turntable for the heavier 78's.....just thinking out loud.....

not a techie....far from it.........

I have both an Onkyo and a Technics belt drive turntables and some old "target discs" ;) to shoot at with a shot gun. My collection goes back to the roaring 20's, they had some interesting stuff back then :).

I forgot that I have the Sony box set (somewhere around here) 100 years of music and there are recordings of John Philip Sousa conducting the Marine Band taken from Edison wax cylinders, if my beer-soaked memory serves me right.....Play those and it will liven up a party....NOT!:sqrolleyes:

I know I have almost a complete set from one of the old 78 jukeboxes, all printed with the same color labels, and such.

I'd like to get my hands on one of those old jukeboxes. They're getting crazy money for them on ebay.

mmm most of mine start as far back as the 40's (some of mums old music) and up from there

finished buying vinyl from 1999/2000 after that, now all CD... that also goes back as old in the style, including classical music as well

I start at about 1958 in traditional music. I do have a handful of music from before then but not mush before 1950. Some old 30's and 40's jass and some big band era.

Unless you count reproductions of classical pieces then 1700, is the start of most known classical music Bach, Mozart and Beethoven ended and went into the 1800

1800's Mendelssohn, Wagner, andTchaikovsky ended the 1800's

So I do have a decent amount from 1700's and 1800's

Having a Verizon Wireless Internet card at every job with 100% connection so far, my collection is whatever I can legally find on the internet. What I don't have I buy on line.

I have some remastered Civil War tunes

Yahoo finally someone who has been around longer than Dirt aka JTV.

"In The Digital Mood" by Glenn Miller Orchestra (GRP cd, circa 1988).......is the oldest music I carry on a chronological basis.....

Originally recorded during WWII, this music was re-recorded DIGITALLY with many of the original musicians in 1987, with the full DDD process.

Unlike most digital versions of Big Band Era recordings--- "In The Digital Mood" is faithful to the original recordings while at the same time sounding good on modern playback systems......a WIN WIN situation if you need to play classics like "In The Mood," "Tuxedo Junction" or "Moonlight Serenade".

My collection is from about mid 70s till today.Most of my gigs i play 80s music or mix together biggest Hits from 70s till today.