grooved or incised media signal recorded by mechanically cutting or incising the surface of the...
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Grooved or Incised Media
Signal recorded by mechanically cutting or incising the surface of the carrier
Most common types:Cylinders and Platters
Also includes dictabelts and piano rolls
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Cylinders
Earliest Format for Recording and Playback of Sound Edison tinfoil recording in 1877 Dominated recording industry into 20th
century
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3 Common Types of Cylinders
Brown Wax or Soft Wax (ca. 1889-1902)
Molded or Black Wax (ca. 1902-1923)
Celluloid (ca. 1900-1929)
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Brown Wax or Soft Wax (ca. 1889-1902)
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Brown Wax or Soft Wax (ca. 1889-1902)
Made to be recordable and re-recordable, therefore are unique
Earliest commercially available were originals Later copies were commercially available, but in
limited quantities Usually have a waxy feel and smell Usually are 4 1/8” long and 2 1/8” in outside
diameter Usually held 2 minutes of recording Fragile, subject to breaking, warping and
distortion of grooves in high temperatures
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Molded or Black Wax (ca. 1902-1923)
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Molded or Black Wax (ca. 1902-1923)
Copies for playback only Hard compound was more durable
and produced louder playback Some waxy smell Usually 4” long Fragile, subject to breaking and
distortion
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Celluloid (ca. 1900-1929)
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Celluloid (ca. 1900-1929)
Copies for playback only Advertised as indestructible Made of nitrocellulose on a hard core
Not the same as nitrate film, ignition point is higher
But, if ignited in a fire, they are almost impossible to extinguish
Fragile, subject to shrinking and cracking in cold temperatures
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All Cylinders Are Fragile
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All Cylinders Are Fragile
They are susceptible to: Damage from previous playback or
rough handling Differential deterioration that results in
breakage Distortion from exposure to heat Mold from exposure to water or high
humidity Insect or rodent damage in poor
storage conditions
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Handling
Wear nitrile gloves Lift from containers by
placing two fingers inside the cylinder, press gently to outside
Do not touch the grooved area
Minimize the amount of time fingers are in contact with the cylinder
Carry on a cardboard tube or dowel inserted through center and held with both hands
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Proper Environment
Clean Cool Dry
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Preferred Containers
Proper orientation: upright on one end Original containers are
almost always unsuitable (acidic)
Especially if lined with gauze
Rebox in container with a core that supports the cylindrical shape Keep original box with
the new one
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Requires Immediate Attention
All valuable cylinders should be copied before storage Carriers are fragile Playback equipment is increasingly difficult to
locate Cylinders with differing materials in the
cores and recording surfaces are at most risk
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Platters
Early form for recording sound Earliest version announced by Emile Berliner
in 1887 (10 years after cylinders) Eventually platters supplanted cylinders for
popular use
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2 Primary Types
Instantaneous Discs(ca. late 1920s-early 1960s)
Commercially Issued Platters(ca. late 1900s-to date)
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Instantaneous Discs(ca. late 1920s-early 1960s)
Aka, aluminum discs, lacquers, acetates, direct-cut discs, etc.
Recordable, therefore unique Laminated, metal or glass core covered
with a material soft enough to incise, but hard enough to withstand replay several times
Usually are 78s May play from inside to outer edge May have handwritten or partially
handwritten labels
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Aluminum Discs(ca. late 1920s-early 1940s)
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Aluminum Discs(ca. late 1920s-early 1940s)
Silver colored Usually 12” in diameter May have damage from previous
playback or rough handling May suffer from oxidation that can
damage grooves Fragile, but generally
chemically stable
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Lacquer Discs, mistakenly called Acetates (1934-early 1960s)
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Lacquer Discs, mistakenly called Acetates (1934-early 1960s)
Usually black nitrocellulose coating on aluminum, glass, or cardboard core
Usually 10”, 12”, 13”, and 16” in diameter May have damage from previous playback
or rough handling Glass cores are very vulnerable to
breakage Cardboard cores are vulnerable to water
damage Coating is vulnerable to plasticizer
exudation and delamination Very fragile, chemically unstable
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All Instantaneous Discs are Fragile
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Commercially Issued Platters(ca. late 1900s-to date)
Earliest recordings were single-sided Later recordings were two-sided (ca. 1907-to
date) Usually have a pre-printed label
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Commercially Issued Platters(ca. late 1900s-to date)
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Commercially Issued 78s(ca. late 1900s-late 1950s)
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Commercially Issued 78s(ca. late 1900s-late 1950s)
Usually made of “shellac” “Shellac” described a number of
compounds: shellac, resins, gums, etc. Usually 10” or 12” in diameter Platters can become brittle with age Susceptible to mold from exposure to
water or high humidity Durable, if housed and stored
properly
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Commercially Issued LPs (33 1/3 rpm) and 45s (ca. 1948-almost to date)
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Commercially Issued LPs (33 1/3 rpm) and 45s (ca. 1948-almost to date)
LPs usually made of vinyl (polyvinyl chloride) Usually 10” or 12” diameter 45s usually made of vinyl or polystyrene Usually 7” in diameter Susceptible to scratching Susceptible to warping from exposure to heat Durable, if housed and stored properly
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Handling
Wear nitrile gloves Grasp cover or container by bottom and
top to remove from shelf Support container from underneath
Flex sleeve gently to slide platter out of or into sleeve
Do not touch playing surface Support platter with fingers underneath
the center and thumb on edge Carry on a piece of cardboard that is
larger than the platter
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Proper Environment
Clean Cool Dry Dark
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Preferred Containers
Proper orientation: upright on the edge
Always remove shrink wrap
Original paper sleeves and covers are almost always unsuitable (acidic) Resleeve in
polyethylene or sturdy buffered alkaline paper
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Preferred Containers
Box in sturdy phonograph boxes Do not overpack Keep original covers
and sleeves (if they have information) with the platter
Make sure accompanying materials are flat and free of staples, etc.
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Shelving
If boxing is not possible, resleeve and place on shelves in album covers Opening of new sleeve should be
perpendicular to opening of album cover
Use full-size dividers 4”-6” apart for support
Do not shelve too tightly Do not allow platters to lean Do not lay platters flat
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Requires Immediate Attention
All valuable instantaneous discs should be copied before storage Carriers are very fragile Playback equipment, especially appropriate
styli, is increasingly difficult to locate Lacquer discs are slightly more fragile than
aluminum discs
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Please Contact Us
Weissman Preservation Center617-495-8596
http://preserve.harvard.edu
Jane Hedberg [email protected] Walters [email protected] Coffey [email protected]