How Long Have Illegal Acetates Been On The Go ?

[Swifty]

The Mrs. has gone out for the day so I thought I'd tidy up Record corner (in the front room!)

anyways, got a couple of big cupboards which I keep all my LP's/12"'s / crap etc.

Started getting it all out to tidy up and came across a 12" Acetate that was my Dad's from the 50's.

It was recorded at the Free Trade Hall , Manchester (which I think is now a Raddisons Hotel) and it's Gerry Mulligan, has 3 tracks each side.

Had a bit of mildew or something and I cleaned it with some warm water and the music sounds really clear (bit crackly though) .

Unfortunately can't ask my old man (no longer with us bless him) how they did this but I pressume it would have been taped? then cut onto disk? Anybody any ideas?

Was my old man an original ! bootlegger !

Cheers

Swifty

Don't want to go down the Glue thread but is there a safe way of cleaning Acetates? which by the way still smells like one after 50 odd years.

P.S. Didn't get Record Corner tidied up as started playing LP's etc. that I haven't played for ages

Edited March 11, 2012 by SWIFTY

[boba]

I think it was not uncommon for people to get an acetate (or "dub") cut of a record they wanted to listen to, and local record stores would often do that (I think beverly records in chicago would do that).

I wouldn't even try to clean the acetate if it's at all flaking or unstable. If it seems stable you could run water in the sink and try to just rinse the record off, maybe putting a little bit of soap and working the grooves with your fingers. I have also heard of people using a sponge with some water / soap on the grooves and then running it under the sink water to rinse off the soapy water.

I would not use anything else besides water / dish soap on the record and I would be extremely careful and slow and stop if it seems like you're affecting the coating.

Edited March 11, 2012 by boba

[Swifty]

I think it was not uncommon for people to get an acetate (or "dub") cut of a record they wanted to listen to, and local record stores would often do that (I think beverly records in chicago would do that).

I wouldn't even try to clean the acetate if it's at all flaking or unstable. If it seems stable you could run water in the sink and try to just rinse the record off, maybe putting a little bit of soap and working the grooves with your fingers. I have also heard of people using a sponge with some water / soap on the grooves and then running it under the sink water to rinse off the soapy water.

I would not use anything else besides water / dish soap on the record and I would be extremely careful and slow and stop if it seems like you're affecting the coating.

Cheers Bob , this was definate dodgy because I remember my Dad telling me they had planned to record this, as he was something to do with the Manchester Jazz Club (Early Soulsourcers Eh!) so I know he was there when they did it,but was this common back then ? The Acetate actually plays well with a bit of crackle and as you said just wiped it with a bit of warm water/soap and looks not bad really for it's age.

Cheers

Swifty

[Mick Sway]

The Mrs. has gone out for the day so I thought I'd tidy up Record corner (in the front room!)

anyways, got a couple of big cupboards which I keep all my LP's/12"'s / crap etc.

Started getting it all out to tidy up and came across a 12" Acetate that was my Dad's from the 50's.

It was recorded at the Free Trade Hall , Manchester (which I think is now a Raddisons Hotel) and it's Gerry Mulligan, has 3 tracks each side.

Had a bit of mildew or something and I cleaned it with some warm water and the music sounds really clear (bit crackly though) .

Unfortunately can't ask my old man (no longer with us bless him) how they did this but I pressume it would have been taped? then cut onto disk? Anybody any ideas?

Was my old man an original ! bootlegger !

Cheers

Swifty

7

During the 1950's and 1960's there were public recording booths in most big cities.

I seem to recall that my mother cut a disc, with some friends, in one at Blackpool.

I believe that they looked like the acetate type of 45, that we used to call EMI discs.

Found this references on the net, I'm sure there'll be many more.

https://retrodundee.blogspot.com/2011/03/railway-recording-booths-1960s.html

Regards

Mick

[Northern Soul Uk]

Yes, be VERY caerful and only use luke warm water and a little wahing up liquid.

I got an original acetate 7" copy of Jocelyn Brown's 'Somebody elses guy', tried to clean

it up with isopropenol which works perfectly on Vinyl or styrene, but completely stripped the

top coat off the acetate (lesson learned).

It is now framed and hanging on the wall above my computer

with the original 'Island' records info sheet. Looks nice, but an expensive display piece.

[Pete S]

7

During the 1950's and 1960's there were public recording booths in most big cities.

I seem to recall that my mother cut a disc, with some friends, in one at Blackpool.

I believe that they looked like the acetate type of 45, that we used to call EMI discs.

Found this references on the net, I'm sure there'll be many more.

https://retrodundee.b...oths-1960s.html

Regards

Mick

They're much smaller though, 5" I think

[p0stscript]

the Voice-O-Graph where six inches.

https://www.pinrepair.com/arcade/voice.htm

[Mick Sway]

the Voice-O-Graph where six inches.

https://www.pinrepair...rcade/voice.htm

Nice one.

Mick

[Pete S]

the Voice-O-Graph where six inches.

https://www.pinrepair...rcade/voice.htm

The British ones were smaller though

[p0stscript]

The British ones were smaller though

accepted

[Guest Gogs]

I've got 2 7 inch acetates that i have always believed to be boots : fenways- satisfied & Holly st james- thats not love. one has a "label" the other is blank. see scans.

Any info appreciated

[Swaggy]

hi i found a top way of cleaning acetates and any vinyl i work on a building site where wearing of glasses is mandatory so there are lens cleaning stations all over and just had the idea to clean a mucky worthless record first before the good stuff the results were amazing. i now use uvex lens cleaning solution (see attachment) on all my records it has also removed static & pops from styrene discs hope this helps.

The earliest i can remember acetates were the emi discs you had made at a tenner a side in the 70S

[Pete S]

I've got 2 7 inch acetates that i have always believed to be boots : fenways- satisfied & Holly st james- thats not love. one has a "label" the other is blank. see scans.

Any info appreciated

Yes they were made to order back in the 70's - you paid £5 and chose two tracks

[boba]

hi i found a top way of cleaning acetates and any vinyl i work on a building site where wearing of glasses is mandatory so there are lens cleaning stations all over and just had the idea to clean a mucky worthless record first before the good stuff the results were amazing. i now use uvex lens cleaning solution (see attachment) on all my records it has also removed static & pops from styrene discs hope this helps.

The earliest i can remember acetates were the emi discs you had made at a tenner a side in the 70S

does it say what the ingredients are in the lens cleaning solution? Also, it seems expensive if you're cleaning a lot of 45s.

Just got the anti-static spray someone recommended in the mail. Might try on one of those records I was testing the glue thing on (but first will test on a cheaper record to make sure it doesn't ruin it). I will see if it makes it sound better. Thanks.

[tosspot]

I've got a lot of studio acetates with no names on or any other details, i'd love to play some out but i fear i may destroy them, some may blow the northern scene apart cos there's no friggin flogged to death oldies there HOW DO I DARE CLEAN THEM ????????????????????????????????????????

[Pete S]

I've got a lot of studio acetates with no names on or any other details, i'd love to play some out but i fear i may destroy them, some may blow the northern scene apart cos there's no friggin flogged to death oldies there HOW DO I DARE CLEAN THEM ????????????????????????????????????????

There's no problem cleaning acetates, just use warm water with a drop of washing up liquid, I've cleaned dozens of them

[Pete S]

The earliest Northern acetates I've seen - that is, in-demanders specifically cut for someone - have been tracks you wouldn't believe were ever rare, things like Bill Blacks Combo - Josephine, The Capitols - Tired of running, Earl Van Dyke - 6 by 6, Chubby Checker - Cu ma la be stay...dating from 1969/70

[tosspot]

There's no problem cleaning acetates, just use warm water with a drop of washing up liquid, I've cleaned dozens of them

cHEERS pETE

[boba]

There's no problem cleaning acetates, just use warm water with a drop of washing up liquid, I've cleaned dozens of them

how do you apply the soapy water? with a piece of cloth or some other way?

[Tony A]

how do you apply the soapy water? with a piece of cloth or some other way?

I use a 1 inch decorators brush, dipped into soapy water, soft bristles so it won't do any harm, rinse in clear water & dry with usual cleaning cloth.

[boba]

I use a 1 inch decorators brush, dipped into soapy water, soft bristles so it won't do any harm, rinse in clear water & dry with usual cleaning cloth.

Thanks a lot, will try this next time I need to clean an acetate (although I often avoid them because they are so fragile).

[Tony A]

Thanks a lot, will try this next time I need to clean an acetate (although I often avoid them because they are so fragile).

I always have a good supply of brushes for cleaning etc, not only for records but amplifiers, computers a whole host of things,

if dusting out an amp for example, nice clean dry brush in and out of the heatsinks, wiring looms, fans, and a vacuum running close by to suck up the crap you dust out.

[Swaggy]

does it say what the ingredients are in the lens cleaning solution? Also, it seems expensive if you're cleaning a lot of 45s.

Just got the anti-static spray someone recommended in the mail. Might try on one of those records I was testing the glue thing on (but first will test on a cheaper record to make sure it doesn't ruin it). I will see if it makes it sound better. Thanks.

[Swaggy]

main ingredient is isopropyl alcohol but not having a phd in chemistry cant add anymore but it works.

[boba]

main ingredient is isopropyl alcohol but not having a phd in chemistry cant add anymore but it works.

are you talking about the foaming cleaner or something else like a general record cleaner? The foaming cleaner didn't smell like isopropyl alcohol. Also, the foaming cleaner doesn't look like it's available in the US (based on my quick google, I could be wrong). Does it contain some US banned chemical or something?

How long do people leave it sitting on the 45 before wiping it off? Thanks.

[Pete S]

are you talking about the foaming cleaner or something else like a general record cleaner? The foaming cleaner didn't smell like isopropyl alcohol. Also, the foaming cleaner doesn't look like it's available in the US (based on my quick google, I could be wrong). Does it contain some US banned chemical or something?

How long do people leave it sitting on the 45 before wiping it off? Thanks.

When you squirt it on, it makes quite a bit of foam, I actually start to play the record then, they stylus gets tons of dirt off the record but gets clogged up after 30 seconds, by this time the foam has turned to just runny liquid, I keep playing it and wiping the stylus...when it's all done, rinse it off with water.

n.b. if you leave it on, it makes surface noise

Edited March 15, 2012 by Pete S

[boba]

When you squirt it on, it makes quite a bit of foam, I actually start to play the record then, they stylus gets tons of dirt off the record but gets clogged up after 30 seconds, by this time the foam has turned to just runny liquid, I keep playing it and wiping the stylus...when it's all done, rinse it off with water.

n.b. if you leave it on, it makes surface noise

yeah, if you wet play a record and then let it dry, gunk dries deep in the grooves and it leaves surface noise, and a regular cleaning will not be able to get the dirt out. I think it's more the wet playing and not the foam that's getting the dirt out though. Did you try a similar thing with, say, windex (glass cleaner) and see if it worked just as well? Thanks.

[Pete S]

yeah, if you wet play a record and then let it dry, gunk dries deep in the grooves and it leaves surface noise, and a regular cleaning will not be able to get the dirt out. I think it's more the wet playing and not the foam that's getting the dirt out though. Did you try a similar thing with, say, windex (glass cleaner) and see if it worked just as well? Thanks.

No never tried that. I'm really a washing up liquid and warm water type of guy. And that foam gives me a headache.

[p0stscript]

I use a 1 inch decorators brush, dipped into soapy water, soft bristles so it won't do any harm, rinse in clear water & dry with usual cleaning cloth.

I've used an old badger hair shaving brush same method

[p0stscript]

yeah, if you wet play a record and then let it dry, gunk dries deep in the grooves and it leaves surface noise, and a regular cleaning will not be able to get the dirt out. I think it's more the wet playing and not the foam that's getting the dirt out though. Did you try a similar thing with, say, windex (glass cleaner) and see if it worked just as well? Thanks.

I've used glass cleaner on some of my old records (really rough and of no real value) did a good job, played far better - but I do not know the long term affect of using the cleaner yet.

[boba]

I've used glass cleaner on some of my old records (really rough and of no real value) did a good job, played far better - but I do not know the long term affect of using the cleaner yet.

I've bought from people who used glass cleaner to clean and not had problems.

I don't regularly use it to clean but if I have to wet play a record (e.g. because it has already been wet played and has a lot of noise) I will use glass cleaner. You have to make sure that all of the record stays wet the whole time it's playing, if any part dries or starts to dry the crap will relodge itself in the grooves. Once it's done, you need to get the cleaner off as soon as possible to keep it from drying and the gunk from settling. You could either use a vacuum or VPI type device (which I don't have) or a bunch of lint free cloths.

I'll only do this with a fisher price turntable because a bunch of glass cleaner always gets inside under the platter and you have to shake it out / wipe it down afterwards. Also, it tracks higher so I figure it's better at digging up the crap in the grooves.

[p0stscript]

i like the idea of using a fisher price turntable or similar.

[Swaggy]

its a clear liquid i just spray it on and wipe with tissue paper it doesnt remove marks off lables tho