Because the music was intended for adults. The reason people think they are for kids is because of the size of the disc and the fact they had the little kid on some of the labels. There ARE small kids records from that era (Cameo made some) but the content of those discs is clearly for kids. Little wonders are usually just shortened versions of regular Columbia releases are were marketed to grown-ups.

Thank you so much, Vincent. That means a lot. I have been out on the road for over a month. (ARSC conference, multiple presentations, picking up multiple collections, etc...) and it's about time to start punching out some new video! What did you find on your collecting trip??

@@MarkAtnip nice! Some great stuff the lady worked in managing estate sales and was retiring she had hundreds of 78s of every genre. I found a Charlie Poole record, 15 Riley Pucketts, 10 gid tanner and the skillet lickers including hand me down my walking cane the first record they cut, some Jimmie Rodger’s including in the jailhouse now, blue ridge high ballers, a weird song in support of Al smith for president since he’d repeal prohibition by the Carolina nighthawks,some home recordings of early 50s slide guitar, a Soviet record, bill monroe, sales ads they’d play over the loudspeakers in Montgomery Ward, Ernest tubb, Roy acuff, lots of Carter family, a shellac party record and some little wonders. She didn’t seem to care about any of it. Gave her 200 bucks for just over a hundred records. I help out at the folklore center in my city. We’re sorting through the collection and are probably gonna make some kind of release of the best stuff and have them on file for our listening parties. There’s a good tight knit group of folk nerds who are passionate about this stuff here

I would like to do a grading video but I haven't figured out how, if that makes sense. There are so many variables, and different collectors use different systems. Some people grade the record as a whole, some grade the condition of the grooves and then list any damage (which is my preferred way of doing things) but there is no agreement from one collector to another on how it "should" be done.

They will play a lot better with a 78rpm needle (2.5 mil) as opposed to a normal microgroove (33/45rpm) stylus. As to whether it will ruin them or not... it will indeed wear out a 33rpm needle faster, but playing a few isn't going to damage or wear the diamond enough to cause a problem unless you are using a REALLY high-end system. (and you have really good hearing) If you have something to play them on, then play them and see if you like them! Let us know what you find out! If you decide you want to play them regularly then seeking out a 78rpm stylus shouldn't be too hard.

All you need is any record player that has a diamond-tipped stylus for 78's, or that can accommodate one. Shellac is more abrasive than vinyl and it can file down softer needle materials. My Emerson Multiplex stereo from the 1970's has one of these special styluses and it has no trouble playing shellac 78's.

Hello! The Jolsen recording on Little Wonder isn't credited. It's not common, however I presume that 95% of record stores wouldn't know that Little Wonder #20 was a Jolson recording and would not charge a premium for it.

Hello! It was King 567 - Rockin Chair Money//When Snowflakes Fall by Bill Carlisle. Recorded in October of 1946.

Good question, Alex. The answer is complicated, however. There are two versions of "desirable". The first is simply whether or not the person who owns the record or someone else wants a copy because they like the music. The other version is whether or not collectors are looking for it and people are willing to spend money on it. In this case, there are a LOT of people looking for this disc who are willing to spend a lot of cash on it. Knowing which recordings are valuable is simply a by-product of going through thousands of records over the years. Being able to spot rare discs in a pile of common ones is an acquired skill. Usually it's the artists that AREN'T popular that have a better chance of being desirable. Most Sinatra, Crosby, etc... records have little value, but Mary Willis and other seemingly dull boring names are quite valuable. It's a sense you develop by listening to a lot of records.

Here you go! Check it out and see if you think it's for you. arsc.wildapricot.org/join

@@MarkAtnip Thanks!

@@MarkAtnip My primary reason for joining is to better my recording techniques. Do you know if anyone could help me with that?

The Thorens recently returned from having a small repair done and as soon as I started watching the video (after it was posted) I immediately noticed that I had not balanced the table. (Note the bubble level) Oh the shame. As for the amp... I might be doing a review of it. It's not available to the public yet. Its.... AWESOME* (*but a bit expensive)

@@MarkAtnip You don't have to have OCD to play records but it certainly helps!

@@1mctous has a VERY valid point! : )

There have been many albums done by corporations/businesses in the past 20 years but none probably in the past decade. I have a CD made by the Wal-Mart Associates Band and one by the Chicago Transit Authority Band.

That is kind of in between a "souvenir" a "promotional" and a "special pressing" It's a fun record as well. Enjoy that one! That's the kind of thing I might get to one day.

@@MarkAtnip Unfortunenitly, the copy I had was destroyed some years ago. I have not found another copy.

Those would be a special pressing in record terms, in general terms it's a promotional record. Would have been mailed out to employees of the bank. If it was mailed out to every member who had an account with the bank I am sure it would be a lot more common. Also likely would be limited to the Fort Wayne and northern Indiana area. I live in this area, and I have never seen it, but I will keep an eye out in the bins. I like collecting promo records so I'm sure if I were to see one it would stick out to me.

@@MrWolfSnack I no longer have that record, it was destroyed years ago by a brother who detested Liberace, any way I think it may have been pressed by Capital Records looking at the label it was their purple label from the fifties