Gramophone Records

In this section you will find a selection of gramophone records for sale, antique 78 rpm records for gramophones and period machines, with repertoires including classical music, opera, zarzuela, jazz, popular songs, light music, bands, historic voices and other genres from the first decades of the 20th century.

Antique 78 rpm gramophone records

Gramophone records are the antique records used on mechanical gramophones and early electric sound reproduction devices. They are shellac records, sometimes also referred to as slate or stone records, normally played at 78 rpm, and were made before vinyl records became widespread.

These records should not be confused with later vinyl records. Gramophone records are thicker, harder and more fragile, and were made to be played at 78 revolutions per minute on antique gramophones or record players compatible with this format.

Shellac, slate or stone records

Shellac records, also sometimes called slate records or stone records, were the most common sound medium before the expansion of vinyl. Their composition gives them a very characteristic feel, weight and sound, different from modern records.

These records were produced by many record companies during the first half of the 20th century. They preserved musical works, popular songs, opera arias, zarzuelas, instrumental pieces, early jazz, speeches, marches, cuplés, tangos, pasodobles and many other period repertoires.

Their sound preserves a very special historical strength. Listening to a gramophone record on an antique machine offers a direct approach to the way music was enjoyed before the arrival of vinyl, modern domestic radio and high-fidelity sound systems.

78 rpm records for antique gramophones

Most gramophone records play at 78 rpm, a standard speed during much of the first half of the 20th century. For this reason, they are also known as 78 rpm records or 78s.

These records can be used on antique mechanical gramophones, provided they are in good condition and suitable needles are used. They can also be played on some antique record players or equipment prepared for the 78 rpm speed.

It is important to remember that shellac records are more delicate than vinyl records. They should be handled carefully, held by the edges, protected from knocks, humidity and sudden temperature changes, and stored vertically in suitable sleeves.

Gramophone records and vinyl records: different formats

It is useful to clearly distinguish gramophone records from vinyl records. Although both are music records, they belong to different periods, materials and playback systems.

Antique gramophone records are usually rigid shellac or slate records, normally played at 78 rpm. Vinyl records, on the other hand, are later, more flexible, lighter and usually found in 33 and 45 rpm formats.

This category is therefore dedicated to antique gramophone records and 78 rpm records, not to modern vinyl records. They are especially interesting pieces for collectors of gramophones, mechanical music, sound history, early discography and period recordings.

Common repertoires on gramophone records

Classical music and opera

Many gramophone records preserve recordings of classical music, symphonic excerpts, opera arias, lyrical singers, choirs and repertoires performed by historic musicians. They are highly appreciated by collectors of early music and historic recordings.

Zarzuela and Spanish song

Zarzuela, Spanish popular song, cuplé, pasodoble and other traditional genres had a strong presence on 78 rpm records. These repertoires have special value for collectors of Spanish music and 20th-century sound memory.

Jazz and popular music

Antique 78 rpm records also include jazz, dance music, international songs, tangos, fox-trots, waltzes, marches and other popular genres. Some examples may be of great interest because of the performer, rarity of the recording, record company or state of preservation.

Gramophone records for collecting and use

Gramophone records have a double interest. On the one hand, they can be used to play music on antique gramophones or compatible machines. On the other, they are historical documents and collectible pieces in their own right.

Their value depends on factors such as the condition of the record, rarity of the repertoire, record company, performer, age, preservation of the label, presence of the original sleeve and absence of cracks, breaks or excessive wear.

For collectors of gramophones, phonographs, antique record players, mechanical music, 78 rpm records, opera, zarzuela, jazz or popular songs, these antique records are essential and highly evocative accessories.

Buying gramophone records at Antiguedades.es

At Antiguedades.es, we select gramophone records for sale with special attention to their condition, period, repertoire, record company, performer, format, speed and compatibility with antique gramophones.

If you are looking for shellac records, slate records, stone records, 78 rpm records, antique records for gramophones, classical music, opera, zarzuela, jazz, popular songs or historic recordings from before the vinyl era, we recommend visiting this section frequently, as our catalogue is periodically updated with new additions.

If you have any questions about a particular record, its condition, repertoire, speed, compatibility or use on an antique gramophone, please contact us. We will be happy to advise you on choosing the most suitable gramophone records for your machine, collection or conservation project.