Tompkins Square label is bringing back the 78 rpm

This is where record cutters raise questions about cutting, and trade wisdom and experiment results. We love Scully, Neumann, Presto, & Rek-O-Kut lathes and Wilcox-Gay Recordios (among others). We are excited by the various modern pro and semi-pro systems, too, in production and development. We use strange, extinct disc-based dictation machines. And other stuff, too.

Moderators: piaptk, tragwag, Steve E., Aussie0zborn

Post Reply
User avatar
blacknwhite
Posts: 483
Joined: Thu Apr 24, 2008 2:57 am
Location: US

Tompkins Square label is bringing back the 78 rpm

Post: # 18900Unread post blacknwhite
Fri Mar 30, 2012 5:33 pm

Image

"San Francisco-based record label Tompkins Square is bringing back the 78 rpm."

DANG, THESE GUYS HAVE THE SAME IDEA which I had back in 2002 when I started my home-based business, but never actually got beyond just restoring & reselling old 78 rpm record players to actually licensing recordings for the commissioning of the manufacture of 78 records :lol: :oops:

Good for them... maybe I'll still get in the game some day who knows...

- Bob

------ ARTICLE TEXT, from The Examiner, http://www.examiner.com/music-news-in-san-francisco/sf-label-tompkins-square-gets-you-into-the-groove-w-78-rpm-for-record-store-day :

Jack White’s not the only one releasing the funky vinyl these days. Although the Third Man Records founder is the only one producing 3 rpm plastic, San Francisco-based record label Tompkins Square is bringing back the 78 rpm. Now that’s sexy.

“A lot of new turntables play 78s, and many 78 collectors listen to their records on modern equipment. Tom Waits, Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe have all recently released 78s. So I thought it would be fun to start a line of them,” Tompkins Square owner Josh Rosenthal writes on his website.

In honor of Record Store Day, April 21, the label will release a series of recordings, the first two will feature previously unreleased recordings from Luther Dickinson (North Mississippi Allstars, The Black Crowes), and Ralph Stanley.

Luther Dickinson’s record features songs of Southern melodies including “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah/Beautiful Dreamer” on the A side and “Nobody Knows The Trouble I’ve Seen/Peace in the Valley” on the B side. Ralph Stanley’s record features “Single Girl” with “Little Birdie” on the flip side.

Both 78s will be released as a limited edition of 500 copies and will not be sold on the label site – they will only be available via independent record stores participating in Record Store Day. (click here for a list of participating stores)

Fans can also find a white label 45 of Hiss Golden Messenger’s “Jesus Shot Me in The Head” b/w the currently unavailable “Jesus Dub,” set for release on April 21.

Have a listen and enjoy as Dickinson takes on the timeless and spiritual piece, "Nobody Knows The Trouble I’ve Seen."

User avatar
Steve E.
Site Admin
Posts: 1938
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2005 3:24 pm
Location: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Contact:

Post: # 18903Unread post Steve E.
Fri Mar 30, 2012 7:12 pm

awesome. another fantastic label design, too.

User avatar
Steve E.
Site Admin
Posts: 1938
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2005 3:24 pm
Location: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Contact:

Post: # 18904Unread post Steve E.
Fri Mar 30, 2012 7:13 pm

See also:

Our own Curley Ann's "Essency Records":
https://lathetrolls.com/viewtopic.php?t=3141&mforum=lathetrolls

Our own Kris D's 78 sub-label "Electric":

http://groove-o-matic.com/

Aussie0zborn
Posts: 1838
Joined: Sat Mar 11, 2006 8:23 am
Location: Australia
Contact:

Post: # 18908Unread post Aussie0zborn
Fri Mar 30, 2012 10:34 pm

So these are 10" 78rpm Microgroove Vinyl Records I take it? playable with a regualr stylus?

User avatar
Steve E.
Site Admin
Posts: 1938
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2005 3:24 pm
Location: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Contact:

Post: # 19161Unread post Steve E.
Tue Apr 10, 2012 3:46 pm

I'm guessing so.

User avatar
Curley-Ann
Posts: 74
Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2012 11:34 am

Post: # 19178Unread post Curley-Ann
Thu Apr 12, 2012 3:02 pm

Hey guys--
nope--Essency Records will be 12"...but most definitely beautiful vinyl and MICROGROOVED (playing time of roughly 10-minutes per side!)
"Essency No. 1" -- "Great Gospel Melodies" by the Riverview Terrace Orchestra will be ready for distribution by July!

User avatar
Curley-Ann
Posts: 74
Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2012 11:34 am

Post: # 19179Unread post Curley-Ann
Thu Apr 12, 2012 3:03 pm

.....but yes--78 RPM, and playable with 1-mil LP stylus

User avatar
audadvnc
Posts: 157
Joined: Tue Jan 24, 2012 3:48 pm
Location: Minneapolis MN

Post: # 19193Unread post audadvnc
Fri Apr 13, 2012 10:03 am

Yeah, but ... it seems to me the main reason for making 78 records nowadays would be providing source material for Victrolas and similar non-electric phono playback machines, for those future days that have no AC power to run the machines.

If you're making 78's that are unplayable on Victrolas, the project appears to be a study in pointlessness.

User avatar
Curley-Ann
Posts: 74
Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2012 11:34 am

Post: # 19194Unread post Curley-Ann
Fri Apr 13, 2012 10:16 am

Not really...
These days (thankfully) NEW phonographs are being made!
Most have the 78 speed on them.
We're providing these folks the wonderful opportunity to not only UTILIZE that speed...but have BRAND NEW recorded material on beautiful, vinyl records to play on those machines!

User avatar
Curley-Ann
Posts: 74
Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2012 11:34 am

Post: # 19196Unread post Curley-Ann
Fri Apr 13, 2012 10:46 am

I love my hand-wound phonographs...don't get me wrong.
HOWEVER...I don't play mine that often. The reason..?
The steel needles--on the heavy reproducers--dig into the playing surface of the record, degrading the groove more with each play!
Eventually, the record will be rendered unplayable.
With each passing year, the old shellac records will become harder and harder to find...and thus more expensive to find replacements of once a favorite recording is ruined!
SO...I would MUCH RATHER utilize a MODERN phonograph...with a 78 speed on it...and a lighter tone-arm with a diamond stylus that will be GENTLE to even the OLDEST records I have--thus PRESERVING what playing surface there IS for as many years as I can!

User avatar
Steve E.
Site Admin
Posts: 1938
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2005 3:24 pm
Location: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Contact:

Post: # 19198Unread post Steve E.
Fri Apr 13, 2012 11:45 am

I think the obvious solution is to buy TWO copies of any modern "standard groove" record. One for playing electrically, one for wrecking on a victrola. :p

That said, I think the 10 minute 78 is cool!

User avatar
Curley-Ann
Posts: 74
Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2012 11:34 am

Post: # 19199Unread post Curley-Ann
Fri Apr 13, 2012 11:56 am

Thanks, Steve...
I'm sure there will be quite a few who will agree that the FIRST and foremost purpose for the phonograph record is:
"PRESERVATION"!
You are recording a time-capsule of audio history, my friends!
I have 78 RPM records in my library that, because they were TREATED PROPERLY, sound just as good today as they did when new!
Records will OUTLAST any and all other forms of media storage out today!
CD's will, eventually, lose their data until they become nothing more than the clear plastic protectors that you see in packages of blank CD-R's.
"Digital" is NOT permanent!
ONLY the phonograph record--if cared for properly--will be able to be played and enjoyed a hundred years from today!
Besides--you should NEVER NEVER NEVER play a vinyl record on a hand-wound phonograph! One play, and the delicate surface will be stripped and destroyed!

User avatar
Curley-Ann
Posts: 74
Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2012 11:34 am

Post: # 19201Unread post Curley-Ann
Fri Apr 13, 2012 12:04 pm

...I'm sorry for getting on my soapbox.
it's just that record collecting has been a big part of my life for so many years, and the CARE of them is very important.
I was always instructed that hand-wound phonographs were for PRE-ELECTRIC RECORDINGS ONLY! (prior to 1925).
After that time, the first electrical phonographs came out, and the fate of record history was forever altered. People either trashed their old victrolas, or put them up in the attic.
I was schooled in this early-on, and it's a valuable lesson I have never forgotten: proper record care is important if you want to keep your valuable records sounding good for years!

User avatar
Techie
Posts: 126
Joined: Sat May 08, 2010 2:20 pm
Location: Wilmington, Delaware

Post: # 19202Unread post Techie
Fri Apr 13, 2012 12:13 pm

Curley-Ann, I agree. One bad scratch on a new CD can turn it into a coaster or paper weight. As long as I have needle and a way to make a record spin, I can hear Fanny Brice, Al Jolson, or Caruso after a trip to a flea market or record convention. Many people think digital is archival. I guess it could be if care is taken to transfer periodically to new media, but that's not likely most of the time.

User avatar
Curley-Ann
Posts: 74
Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2012 11:34 am

Post: # 19203Unread post Curley-Ann
Fri Apr 13, 2012 12:48 pm

Well...I DO have some very good news:
In this morning's mail has come the first PAID request for our initial Essency recording!
A sweet lady in Sea Cliff, NY sent in a payment of $14!
(...and people say Friday the 13th is unlucky!)

User avatar
Angus McCarthy
Posts: 760
Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2010 6:22 pm
Location: Bloomsburg, PA, USA

Post: # 19208Unread post Angus McCarthy
Fri Apr 13, 2012 10:24 pm

Congratulations!

This discussion reaffirms the need for modern "fibre" type needles for acoustic gramophones. The NOS supply will not last forever, and not everybody has access to a cactus!

User avatar
Curley-Ann
Posts: 74
Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2012 11:34 am

Post: # 19213Unread post Curley-Ann
Sat Apr 14, 2012 9:32 am

Angus McCarthy wrote:Congratulations!

This discussion reaffirms the need for modern "fibre" type needles for acoustic gramophones. The NOS supply will not last forever, and not everybody has access to a cactus!
Ah...yes!
A fibre needle would work beautifully. I had forgotten about that.
(however...for OUR records, you may have to crank the phono halfway thru the side! LOL)
But yeah--give it a shot. Remember--one play per needle.

User avatar
W.B.
Posts: 50
Joined: Fri Apr 28, 2006 3:01 pm
Location: New York, New York, USA

Re: Tompkins Square label is bringing back the 78 rpm

Post: # 37242Unread post W.B.
Sat Sep 12, 2015 9:59 pm

I'm curious as to what center label size is on these records - 3" or 3.625" diameter? (I'm thinking the post-1930 standard for center labels for 78's.)

User avatar
EmAtChapterV
Posts: 257
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2013 6:49 pm
Location: Vancouver, BC

Re: Tompkins Square label is bringing back the 78 rpm

Post: # 37243Unread post EmAtChapterV
Sat Sep 12, 2015 10:07 pm

I've seen one of these in a local record store, and the label is either 3" or very close, maybe 3.25" at most.

Post Reply