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Collectors' F.A.Q.
Question
From Simon Daniel, New Zealand
A few weeks ago I bought an "Unforgettable Fire"
shaped picture disc on eBay for $26. The white areas on the
a-side of the disc have started to turn brown. The b-side is
in original condition. The seller says it was like this when
they bought it and the record has always been stored in a cupboard
away from sunlight.
I'm wondering if this browning process is normal and will it
affect the value of the record?
Dennis C.: I use to have a copy with
80% of the edges brown, instead of the normal white. Actually
it is a manufacturing error, and it turned out to be worth a
bit of a premium when I sold it. I have heard of other copies
being sold with the same "defect" at slightly higher
prices also. Personally I kind of thought the copy I use to
have was kind of ugly, so I got rid of it. Obviously some collectors
don't feel the same, so I would just hold onto it.
Paul Miller: Dennis is spot on. It
happens when the vinyl is too hot and gets burnt, just like
chip fat, it goes brown/gold in colour. The record was pressed
and voila, a rarity. They fetch a premium on the normal pressing,
I have seen as much as 100% premium, but personally I think
that is a bit much.
But, definitely worth holding onto.
Update, 2005
Dennis C.: Many years ago I was one of the people quoted here
about the brown edges of the Unforgettable Fire picture disk.
At that time it was a rare occurrence to find a copy with this
problem. For a while it even resulted in the record being sold
at a premium price.
Fast forward 8 years or however long it has been since this
issue came up on @U2, and you find that a majority of these
picture disks are now turning up brown.
That being the case, my opinion has changed in that this
IS NOT a pressing plant issue. What is the problem? It's just
an educated guess, like it was 8 years ago. But I think it's
one of three things, or a combination of them.
1. The vinyl is turning brown possibly due to acid / ink
in the paper portion of the picture disk?
2. The vinyl is of some inferior quality / composition and
for some reason turns brown after years of exposure to light
and possibly even air?
3. The vinyl of the picture disk and the vinyl of the sleeve
are different compositions and are reacting in some chemical
way? (Probably
not the case)
My own personal copy was pristine mint when I bought it 20
years ago, I have it stored in it's original sleeve + an extra
poly sleeve. It has been stored in a record box tightly between
12" LP's. Yesterday I took it out for the 1st time in
3 or 4 years, it has a very noticeable amount of brown showing
up (only on one side) and the edges. It's not like some that
I have seen on Ebay, but most likely in a few years it will
be. |
