Information on "78s"
Most commonly, vintage disc records are referred to as "78s", referring to a speed of 78 revolutions per minute (rpm). However, the 78 speed was not fully standardized until the late 20s and early 30s; prior to this time, playing speeds ranged anywhere from 60 to 130 rpm! Most of the pre-1925 records one encounters today will play properly at speeds ranging from 72-82 rpm. (Edison Diamond Disc records all play at 80.) Most vintage records were made from shellac.
Non-vintage disc records were made from 1949 to the present. They are commonly referred to as micro-groove records, and play at 45 or 33 rpm. Formats include 7" 45 rpm discs with oversized spindle holes, 10" and 12" long plays (LPs), extended plays (EPs) and others. Most non-vintage records were made from vinyl.
Cleaning of Your Records
Though you can purchase cleaning solutions, brushes and machines that will do a grand job, it is not necessary for the average collector to go to this expense. Unless a record is really filthy or greasy, gently rubbing with a damp terrycloth towel in the direction of the grooves will remove most of the dirt. This should be done on a soft flat surface to prevent cracking the disc, and the towel should be rinsed out frequently if cleaning more than just a few records. Follow the cleaning towel with a fluffy dry one, and let the record air-dry for a few minutes before re-sleeving it.
If the record is really dirty, it is generally safe to wash it with soapy water. Use a mild liquid dish washing detergent, and rinse well before drying. Whatever you do, don't use alcohol based cleaners or solutions such as Windex on your records. You might wind up stripping off the surface!
Storing Your Records
Try to avoid storing your records flat, as this will cause grains of sand, record sleeves and other foreign objects to imbed themselves into surface. Records should be stored upright on edge. Do not allow them to lean, and avoid keeping them in record storage boxes unless the discs are fully upright and flat against each other. They may be safely stored flat if the individual stacks are not greater than a couple of inches tall and the temperature doesn't get too high.
High temperatures quickly damage records, so it is important to monitor the environment where your records are stored. Ideally, the ambient temperature should not be allowed to exceed 75° F, especially if the records are not clean and stored upright!
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