Collecting

 Collecting records and looking after them

Wired | tc 1114

Collecting

The easiest way to find Chess and any other vinyl or 78 records is to look at Discogs. You can search Google for second hand record shops and some may be near where you live. Compile a list of the shops near your location. Note their addresses, phone numbers, email addresses. Let them know you what you are looking for. 

Make a list of the records you want.

Research prices of those recordings, and see how much they vary.

Is the item for sale pictured, and what condition is it in. Is the cover complete? Has the spindle hole worn badly? Are there any scratches on the tracks? Is the surface clean? (When I was on hospital radio, we were given old records which had had paint spilt all over the playing surfaces.) Will they play it for you?

Set a limit on how much you are prepared to pay. Consider having the money you have set aside for purchases in a separate savings account so you do not overspend.

Is the seller a regular seller and are there any customer comments.

Looking After Vinyl Records

Vinyl records cost money, so it is worth while spending a little more money on storing them properly so they last longer and do not deteriorate.

Vinyl records should be kept in a clean dry place, avoiding extreme temperatures and humidity. They should be stored vertically, like in the image. (Having them in a pile causes the records to warp because vinyl records can be heavy.If they warp, they will not play correctly.) 

Avoid touching the playing surfaces with your hands and fingers, because oils in your skin can enter the grooves and then attract dust, which will affect the sound quality when you play the records, and your fingernails could scratch the record surface. Always handle your records either by the edges or by using the printed centre labels. 

The image shows some records on or near the floor. This is not a good idea. Storing records on the floor increases the risk of accidents, humidity and dust; the records may also pick up mould and mildew from the floor and from the colder air near the floor. (Warm air rises, but cold air sinks and becomes more humid and damp.)

Vinyl records are usually stored in a sleeve. The basic sleeve is a paper bag with holes cut so you can read the labels. Some 7" records have an inner paper sleeve inside a card outer sleeve which carries art work. You can buy polyethylene outer sleeves which keep them cleaner and protect them from ultraviolet light (UV). Unlike PVC sleeves, they are also acid free. If the inner paper sleeves - or the paper bags provided with seven inch singles - gets torn or worn, you can buy replacement bags.

For twelve inch vinyl albums, normally these are provided with an outer card sleeve with art work and an inner bag usually made of paper with a poly lining. The inner bag is essential for albums. Keeping the album in just the outer cardboard sleeve greatly increases the risk of scratching by the card. It is also easier for dust and damp to get in to the record if there is no inner bag. Often the bags have curved corners which makes it easier to get the bag in and out of the outer sleeve.

If a vinyl record is looking dirty, it needs cleaning to bring back the performance. DO NOT use normal domestic cleaning products on vinyl records, they will cause considerable damage. 

Invest in a soft brush, like a carbon fibre brush, to brush away dust from the grooves. For general cleaning of the whole vinyl record, using a soft microfibre cloth is recommended. Microfibre cloths can be used dry or wet. Do not brush from side to side of the record; wipe gently, following the grooves. For a deeper clean the wet method is best; use vinyl cleaning solution or a mix of distilled water and isopropyl alcohol, and a clean microfibre cloth. Complete vinyl record cleaning kits are available online from sites like amazon.

Warped vinyl records can be flattened using a record flattener. Remove all dust and debris using a vinyl safe brush. Place the record in the flattener ensuring the protective felt rings or pads are located correctly. Heat the device typically from 130F to 140F for one to two and a half hours, depending on the weight of the vinyl record. Leave the record inside the device while it cools down to room temperature, which can take around 45 minutes. 

Looking after 78s

Caring for old 78 rpm records requires special care because they are made from a brittle material called shellac which is highly sensitive to moisture and chemicals.

Shellac is a natural, amber coloured resin produced by the female lac bug on trees in India and Thailand. Harvested as flakes, the flakes are dissolved in denatured alcohol to make a high gloss liquid for coating surfaces.

Do not use standard vinyl cleaning solutions or anything with alcohol in it because alcohol will dissolve the shellac, turning the surface into a mush which can no longer be played.

Instead use a few drops of mild and fragrance free dish washing liquid mixed into warmed distilled water. Wipe gently following the grooves using a soft lint-free microfibre cleaning cloth. Use warm distilled water to rinse and pat dry.

Storing 78s

Store the 78 rpm records completely vertical, do not stack them or the records at the bottom of the pile will warp due to the weight. Use dividers on the shelf so they do not lean heavily against one another. Replace old paper sleeves with acid free paper sleeves or polyethylene archive sleeves designed specially for 10" 78 rpm records.

Watch the atmosphere. Keep them cool and dry. Shellac hates extreme temperatures and high humidity. Don't store them in uninsulated spaces like attics, sheds, damp basements or where they will receive direct sunlight.

Playing 78s

Use a dedicated stylus designed specially for 78 rpm records. A standard vinyl stylus will destroy the record.

103 | 11 October 2026