78 rpm Records
 

We've been cleaning out our storage area and I came across many 78 rpm records that had belonged to my father. There are many well-known names such as Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, some Al Jolson, even a Gene Autry. I want to keep a few but really want to get rid of most of them. I've been carting these things around for over 30 years!

Has anyone had any experience in selling these? The little bit of research I've done it looks like they aren't worth that much.

I think the easiest way to price them is to go to eBay, search on "78 rpm records", and then click on "completed listings". That way you can see what individual records have actually sold for. Aside from condition, individual records vary widely in price depending on what exactly they are. For example, a 78 rpm Johnny Cash record sold for $38 on eBay recently.

Condition is everything with records. If these have been stored in a non-climated-controlled area for years, they may be warped or scratched, in which case they will have little or no value. If they are in mint condition, then the research on eBay is worthwhile; you may have a few rare ones that are worth selling individually.

I think you will find the ones with the well known names are not worth much. Rare R&B discs are more what collectors are looking for.

I would do some research before you get rid of anything. My son is always searching for vinyls, especially of jazz players.
Don't just dump them. Try to make some money OR art. If you find they aren't worth much, you can put them on the wall for decoration. Or use the album covers for art.

I was in a flea market today and there was a great big box of 78s marked $1 each. I didn't look through them to see what they were.

I had hundreds from my father's home and called in a collector to see if they were of value. Most are not. If the jacket is perfect or unopened then more value. Because of the volume of records produced they are not scarce. Thus they don't hold value. Often they hold more value to the owner because of memories associated with them rather than the item itself. Be selective, have several collectors look them over and don't feel bad about just getting rid of the "common" low value items. Beatles, excellent condition Elvis and obscure performers in the country, folk and jazz categories do have value. Sometimes the search for the perfect buyer is more time consuming and costly than the sale value of the record. On the other hand I sure learned a lot about the record collecting. :)

My brother sells on Ebay all the time

I bought some from goodwill and used them for party bowls. You put them in the oven and they get hot and then you put them on abowl and shape them and use it for a bowl. Get hit.

My dad owns an antique shop and he has several records that he buys and sells. If you want to get rid of them give me a price and I'll see if daddy wants them.

Good luck. I haven't been able to get rid of the 33's that I have, so I just play them and enjoy.

i hope you can sell them. i have some 45's still. Spike Jones "All I want for Christmas if my Front teeth" and Donkey Seranade, etc. They were my Mothers.

Perhaps consignment or sell to an anitque store.

I paint on them, roses, lace designs, violets, etc.

Catlady

Some may not hold in monetary value, BUT crafters love them. I have seen them melted somewhat and shaped into bowls, some into homemade clocks and a few I am finding on Pinterest that are finely cut into siloulettes. These are down right gorgous and I would love to have one or two. My crafting skills do not extend that far, unfortunately. I am sure there are other crafts out there. You could also take them to area nursing homes for show and tell--let them reminence over those old records, now that is priceless. You do not have to give them to the nursing home, just show 'em.

i have seen them make bowls out of them , they are not worth anything right now. maybe later

When My Mother died she had a large collection of 78's 33's and 45's. I ended up giving them all to our local PBS TV station. They have a vinyl sale every year.
Since then I have made the bowls and now I wish I had some of the old ones back.

Share them with your granchildren. I pull some out and played them for my granddaughter and a few of her friends a few years back and they were fascinated.

I love the idea of recycling them into other things....there is a book available via download with lots of interesting ideas...fountain, wine rack etc. I would not be using an oven to melt one, but doing it outside with a mask, gloves and a heat gun. Who knows what toxins will be released when the vinyl is melted.

The vinyl does not melt - it only droops over the bowl it is on. However if you do not watch it I suppose it could melt. As with any craft that uses heat you have to be responsible! It is in the oven less than 5 min.