Homemade Record Database

Below is a listing of homemade lacquer records, acetate records, aluminum records and glass records with their approximate production dates. This database will be updated regularly to add new label variations and manufacturers in an attempt to provide information regarding the many types of homemade records produced from 1930-1960.

Acetate or lacquer records first came into use in the 1930s as a way to create reference copies of master recordings. However, it wasn’t until the 1940s and 50s that they became a popular format for creating demo and home recordings.

Acetate records are made by coating a metal disc, glass or cardboard fiber with a layer of nitrocellulos lacquer. A cutting lathe is then used to cut a groove into the acetate coating, which corresponds to the audio signal being recorded. The resulting acetate disc is a one-off recording that can be used for home or institutional use, demonstration purposes or to create a limited run of vinyl records.

Homemade lacquer records are extremely fragile and wear easily by simply playing them, many are now peeling, cracking or chipped. Playing them with the wrong type of stylus often further damages their delicate surfaces. The sound quality they exhibit is mostly extremely poor, especially due to the fact that they were often made by amateurs in a home setting with consumer grade equipment. Lacquer record digitizing will preserve the current state of the recorded media however the vast majority of the time digital audio restoration will be needed to further enhance the inferior sound quality. It is important to note that most lacquer record audio can not be FULLY restored by any means but can be improved through cleaning, using proper transfer equipment, and state of the art digital restoration tools.

Homemade Record Types

Audiodisc Recording Blank (Early Label Variation)

Dated 1948

Unknown Composition

Audiodisc transfer services

Audiodisc Recording Blank

1940’s-1960’s

Unknown Composition

Audiodisc Record Transfer

Audiodisc Recording Blank (Label Variation 2)

Mid-Late 1940’s

Unknown Composition

Audiodisc home recording disc transfer services

Clear-O Recording Disc

Mid 1940’s

Glass Record

Clear O Recording Disc

Duodisc

Mid 1940’s

Aluminum Core

duodisc record homemade record

Howard Home Recording Disc

Early 1940’s

Aluminum Core

howard record transfer

Microlac Recording Disc by Reeves Soundcraft

1950’s

Unknown Composition

Microlac Recording Disc by reeves soundcraft

National Hollywood Recording Disc

Dated 1949

Unknown Composition

National Hollywood disc transfer

Nelson's Plattertag (Radio Station Recording)

Date Late 1940 – Early 1950’s

Unknown Composition

Nelson's Plattertag Record transfer serives

Philco Safety Record

Dated 1943

Unknown Composition

philco safety record transfer

Presto

Dated 1940 & 1941

Unknown Composition

Presto home made record transfer

RCA Victor Phonogram

Early-Mid 1940’s

Unknown Composition

RCA Victor Phonogram record transfer services

Recordisc (Green Label)

Dated 1941

Unknown Composition

Recordisc lacquer record transfer

Recordisc "Victory Speed" Label

Dated 1942

Unknown Composition

Recordisc homemade record transfer service

Recordisc (Orange/Rust Label)

Dated 1946

Unknown Composition

Recordisc record transfer

Recordisc (Blue Label)

Mid 1940’s

Unknown Composition

Recordisc home made record to digital service

Recordisc (Purple Label)

Mid 1940’s

Unknown Composition

Recordisc record transfer

Recordisc (Red Label)

Dated 1949

Unknown Composition

Recordisc Home Record transfer

Silvertone Record Disc

Early – Mid 1940’s

Unknown Composition

Silvertone

Silvertone (Sears Roebuck & Co. Label)

Dated 1942

Unknown Composition

Silvertone (Sears Roebuck & Co.Label) Record to CD transfer services

Soundcraft Audition Recording Disc

Mid 1940’s

Unknown Composition

soundcraft record digitizing

Voice-O-Graph

Dated 1960

Unknown Composition

Voice-O-Graph homemade record transfer

Wilcox-Gay Recordio Disc

Dated 1947

Aluminum Core

wilcox-gay recordio disc transfer

Wilcox-Gay Recordio Disc

Late 1940’s

Red lacquer

wilcox-gay recordio disc lacquer transfer

Zephyr Products Co.

Mid 1940’s

Unknown Composition

Zephyr

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