Spinning History: Rare 78 RPM Records on Display in Museums

 For music and history enthusiasts, rare 78 RPM records provide a unique opportunity to look into the  past. From wartime speeches to operatic arias, these old discs capture specific moments in history that  are now stored in museums and private collections.

One such example is the 78 rpm gramophone record  of Winston Churchill’s speech, ‘War of the Unknown Warrior’ at Birmingham Museums Trust – a  piece of history allowing you to listen to the voice of Britain’s wartime prime minister as he sounded when he  was recording the message.

If you enjoy the sound of older records (or shellac), here are  some museums and collections you should visit to experience the magic of rare records.

Science Museum Group: A  Treasure Trove of 78s

The Science Museum Group in the UK is home to a large  number of historical gramophone records, including:

• EMI Test Records Album – A set of eight  78 RPM test records used to calibrate early gramophones, made by EMI in the  1930s-1940s.

• Jussi Björling Record – A  nearly new 78 RPM disc of the Swedish tenor singing La Donna è Mobile and Recondita  Armonia, recorded between 1925 and 1935.

These records reflect not only the  development of the recording technology but also the art that was put into the production of the early sound  reproduction. If you are interested to know what an original opera recording made nearly a century ago sounded like,  this is the place to be.

Visit: Science Museum Group Collection

Museum of Technology:  Gramophones and Rare Finds

For a more interactive experience, the Museum of Technology in  Lincolnshire has original gramophones which play 78 RPM records. The museum exhibits the inner workings of  early recording instruments, and thus, visitors can listen to music and speeches like people did a century  ago. Wartime broadcasts and early Jazz are presented here.

Visit: Museum of Technology

Birmingham  Museums Trust: Churchill’s Voice on Record

One of the most historically important records displayed to the  public is Winston Churchill’s ‘War of the Unknown Warrior’, a private 78 RPM recording which is  kept at the Birmingham Museums Trust. This disc saves a significant segment of World War II, enabling  anyone who listens to Churchill’s words to feel the same way they did when he first gave the speech.

 

(Churchill’s war speech, a private recording) 

To history buffs, this rare recording provides a rather hopeful yet fearful insight into Britain’s wartime  spirit. Visit: Birmingham Museums Trust

Private Collectors: Where to Find Rare  78s

Apart from museums, there are collector’s and dealers, and other sites that focus on the  trade of rare 78 RPM records. Some of the best places to find these treasures include:

•  Old Gramophone Records UK – A Yorkshire-based collector with an enormous collection of 78s, including  early jazz and spoken word material.

• Bill Clark’s 78rpm Record Archive – An excellent site  for identifying the labels of historical 78-inch records and looking at old-time advertisements.

• eBay UK  – A great place to buy rare 78 RPM records, including early Bing Crosby music, and classic  music compiles.

Explore rare finds: eBay UK 78 RPM Records

From Shellac to  Streaming: The Evolution of Sound

Rare 78 RPM records are a testament to how far we have come  with recorded music – from the fragile shellac discs to the present day digital streaming. Although these old  records were made to be used and required special care and equipment, we can now listen to music with  the click of a button.

If you like the sound of the analogue but also want the ease of  use of the digital, then A2D2 Stream is for you. Unlike most converters,  A2D2 Stream does not digitize music but preserves the analogue experience and streams it through modern digital  speakers. It is like hearing a record from a century ago on a gramophone, but with the  sound quality of the current best audio systems. Have a look: A2D2 Stream  

If you are interested in record collecting, history, or just enjoying old  sounds, you will find these museums and collections most engaging. And if you want to stream vintage sound  on your smart speakers then A2D2 Stream is for you.

Please let us know your favourite rare record finds!

Explore some of our related blogs here: 

Spinning History: Rare Audio Recordings on Display in Museums

 Vinyl Art: When Music Meets Masterpiece

Before Podcasts: The Fascinating World of Educational Vinyl Records

Moriz Jung: The Artist Who Captured the Magic of Early Phonographs

Vinyl Visions: How Peter Doig’s 'House of Music' Turns Art into Sound