Brown Wax Cylinder Records.

[edisonhomeboy]

Hi All!

I've been wondering about this for years...

First Question:
I have noticed over the last few months that brown wax cylinders with at least 1/3 of their surface covered with mold have been selling for as much as $60 on eBay. My understanding is that, regardless of cylinder type, the mold grows into the playing surface of the record and destroys it. I'm curious to know if there is a way to save them. Otherwise, why would anyone want them?


Second question:
Is it true that a moldy record can spread its mold spores throughout a collection of clean cylinders and mold them as well? For this reason I've always viewed moldy cylinders, of any type, as entirely worthless and potentially dangerous to own. Lord knows it wouldn't be the first time I've been wrong...

[phonogfp]

You're correct on both counts, but with caveats.

Point #1: The mold that sometimes grows on brown wax cylinders can make the record look worse off than it really is. I once bought a 5 inch cylinder at a show simply for the box it was in. The cylinder itself was almost solid chalky white. I almost tossed the record into the trash (in observance of your point #2), but decided to try removing the mold. This I did with several soft clean cloths. The surface looked surprisingly good - although obviously somewhat damaged by the mold. But I'll never forget the booming announcement over the light surface noise: "Charlatan March! Played by Gilmores's Band for the Columbia Phonograph Company of New York and Paris!" Not a perfect record, but a playable 5 incher - - that I almost threw away because it looked so bad.

Now, the black wax cylinders are another story. I've never been able to resurrect one of those. If it's moldy, it's junk.

Point #2: Putting a moldy cylinder with active growth among healthy cylinders can spread the mold to them. This is especially true inside cylinder carrying cases and sometimes cylinder cabinets. Keep in mind that these cases and cabinets can be infected with mold spores as well, so clean them thoroughly when possible. In the case of cotton-lined cases, like cotton-lined cylinder boxes, once infected, they cannot really be cleaned. Don't use them.

Hope this helps.

George P.