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Hi Ivan, Sorry for the delayed reply. The two clues that you give are the time frame and the off-center hole. Your disc is most likely 78RPM and was possibly made with one of the commercial disc making booths available at Woolworth and many other retailers of the time. It was popular during WWII for people to use these booths to record voice messages to send to loved ones overseas. I was told that Elvis Prestley actually used one of these booths in Memphis to record a voice demo. Not sure about the Pepsi logo but if it's a commercially made recording you will be much better off. Anyway, these discs are VERY FRAGILE, most likely have a cardboard center. Very few have survived the raviges of time and many of those that have, are marginally playable due to surface cracks (crazing) ans such. Start by playing your disc at 78RPM using an appropriate styli with minimal tracking force and see what you get. Record everything you do! You may only have one chance at playback and if it's off-speed, it can be corrected. Use standard RCA Victor 78RPM EQ to start with. If it's a little off, it can be corrected in the digital domain as well. I don't intend to sound flip here but you probably have a voice recording and, as such, have lot's of lattitude with regards to pitch and EQ settings. Check out my page on DYI Record transfers: http://www.baileyzone.net/records%20diy.htm Email me off-list with more questions if you like. Cheers! Corey Corey Bailey Audio Engineering www.baileyzone.net On 5/30/2012 11:09 AM, Ivan Kawaler wrote: > No, this is clearly not cardboard. In my question about cleaning, I > mentioned that I found a reference stating they were acetate. > However, the site was some type of auction, so a more knowledgeable > opinion would be appreciated. > > On May 30, 2012, at 12:02 PM, Roger Kulp wrote: > >> I have found a couple of these.They're cardboard,right? >> >> Good luck trying to play them.I would like to know if anybody has had >> any success in playing similar records,and getting any sound from them. >> >> I was digging in the Goodwill clearance bins a few months ago,and I >> found a number of those Capitol Records home recording records that >> were a similar type of cardboard records. >> >> These records can give us a very interesting little audio snapshot of >> a moment in time,and what real people were doing and thinking,but >> unfortunately most of what is on these records is lost forever. >> >> Roger >> >> ________________________________ >> From: Ivan Kawaler <[log in to unmask]> >> To: [log in to unmask] >> Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 9:24 AM >> Subject: [ARSCLIST] WWII "Your Man In Service" Record >> >> I was recently asked to transfer, and attempt to restore, a record of >> my grandfather from World War II. It is one of the small acetate >> records with the Pepsi:Cola logo on it, and is 6-3/8" in diameter. I >> think they are relatively common, but if more information about it is >> necessary, I can pass that along. I do have audio training, and was >> even a member of ARSC, until I gave up trying to find related audio >> work. In any case, I have little experience with records beyond my >> father showing me how to clean and play 33s. If someone could answer >> some questions so I can get as good of playback as I can, I would >> appreciate it. >> >> First, I do not know what speed this record should be played at. At >> first, I thought 78 RPM, but I am not sure. All I know is that it >> would fit the center spindle on the turntable I have without the >> included 45 RPM adapter. Can anyone verify? >> >> Also, it likely needs some cleaning. I still have some cleaner for >> use with vinyl, but since this is acetate, I want to be 100% certain >> it is safe. If a cleaner is safe for vinyl, does that necessarily >> mean it is safe for use with acetate? >> >> Additionally, I know enough about older recordings to know that >> numerous equalization curves have been implemented throughout the >> history of the record. Will I need to apply one to get proper >> playback? Also, I am familiar with the RIAA equalization that >> eventually became standard, but since this recording was made in the >> mid-1940s, that should not be used, correct? >> >> Finally, I noticed that there are two holes in the disc. One >> obviously aligns with the center spindle on a turntable, but the >> other is off-centered. My best, though naive, guess is that it is >> for another spindle that was located on a platter on turntables that >> did not have a disc stabilizer. Am I correct? Maybe I should be >> asking, how far off is my guess? >> >> I would also like to apologize for posting to the list as a non-ARSC >> member. Since I was unable to find audio work, or even work in the >> IT field, where I have my most recent training, I could not justify >> spending the money to continue my membership. >> >> Ivan Kawaler >