Why 78rpm, 45rpm, and 33.3rpm?

I have (2) 10" Victor 78's, one patented 1904, the other 1908. These are single-sided, with the back containing a label with patent and pricing info. The 1904 one was priced at $1.00 (12 for $10), the 1908 at 60 cents.

The patent info could have been written today, what with the warnings about illegal copying,etc.

Using the Sahr inflation calculator, $1.00 in 1904 was equal to $20.00 in 2002. 60 cents was $12.00 in '02. And this for a single, 3-minute cut. Obviously, the very early days of records was a luxury market. Some things never change...

Great, informative posts, Shasta!

I own an Edison, wind - up, 80 rpm console phonograph and I thought the records were double sided. I guess it would be worth something if I didn't have it in my basement, with barbell plates piled high on it. It was bought at a garage sale, with a bunch of records inside it. Some are pretty cool tunes, including "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp". I may also have "Sunny Italy"(I'll take you back with me, back to sunny Italy...) in there, or is that on 78...

Trelja,

Man, I'd have that phonograph restored and on display. I wonder what they retailed for in their day...

I'm in the process of having my (2) 78's mentioned framed, with a copy of the backside info as an inset. Patent info dating to 1895, another accredited to Emile Berliner... Heavy stuff, to me.

You don't know where you are, 'till you see where you've been...