[R_Edward]

Do you mean to tell me that those crates of my dad's 78 rpm records sitting in my basement might actually be worth something? I was thinking about playing them on a 33.3 rpm turntable into my PC, then using Audacity to speed them up to 78, just to be able to hear the music again, and by association, remember my dad. Geeze, there must be at least a hundred of 'em down there, at least!

[randomdestructn]

Please find proper equipment to play them.

Using a microgroove stylus designed for vinyl will not do your shellac records any favours. Also the recordings will sound terrible.

There are several modern cartridges that support 78rpm stylii, and lots of vintage kit available cheap.

Also careful, they shatter somewhat easily, and like to get mouldy.

[keithpeter]

Google the work of philip jeck (samples on youtube) for hugely emotional use of the old sounds.

Try and get hold of an actual 78 rpm turntable, the old dansettes could do those speeds as could the cheaper separate turntables that had ceramic cartridges with two 'sides' (78/33).

Enjoy

[arethuza]

Rega make a dedicated 78rpm turntable:

http://www.rega.co.uk/rp78.html

[lozf]

If you do this, please, for the sake of any other vinyl you have, use a different (cheaper) stylus for the 78s.