What to do with old 45s?

October 16, 2012 1:04 PM

What to do with old 45s?

I've inherited a collection of around 60 old 45s. These appear to be record club issues, so millions of them were pressed, and I don't think any are particularly valuable.

I don't have a turntable, so I can't play them--but they don't look like they are in bad shape.

The collection spans from the 1960s to the late 1970s, with popular rock and Motown. The paper sleeves are mostly there, but no covers. The records are in carrying cases (where they could be "filed").

Any idea what I should do with this little collection? Who might be interested in it?

posted by FergieBelle to media & arts (8 answers total)

With a hair dryer and a little bending force, you can make bookends out of them.
posted by inturnaround at 1:10 PM on October 16, 2012

I was thinking bookends or little bowls (I've seen big ones, but smaller ones would be adorable and cute holiday gifts), if you can't find anyone who would be interested in them intact. Maybe a senior center or somewhere might enjoy having them?
posted by mrs. taters at 1:13 PM on October 16, 2012

Why not give or sell them to someone who might really want them. They're not valuable, per se, but that doesn't mean there isn't a Motown fan out there who wouldn't like to listen to them.

Throw 'em on eBay with a buy it now price of $15 and see if you get anything.
posted by Sara C. at 1:39 PM on October 16, 2012 [2 favorites]

Throw 'em on eBay with a buy it now price of $15 and see if you get anything.

Or Craigslist, to avoid shipping.

Also - there have been some news articles about Japanese collectors seeking rock records from that era. The world is a big place - someone will want those 45s.
posted by b1tr0t at 3:20 PM on October 16, 2012

In a similar situation I donated them to a thrift store. I knew I wouldn't get much money for them if I bothered to sell them on eBay, but that they weren't entirely worthless. Let them find their own way to a good home.
posted by The corpse in the library at 4:09 PM on October 16, 2012

Record clubs didn't issue 45s, as a rule. Are these twelve-inch records? If so, they're LPs, aka 33s, not 45s. Anyway, if they're common titles, and without jackets, it's probably not worth trying to sell them. Donating to a thrift store would be the way to go.
posted by in278s at 5:39 PM on October 16, 2012

Bunch of old Motown 45's in good condition? I'd take them and listen to them if I lived anywhere near you, no question. Someone will want them, don't turn them into bookends.
posted by deadwax at 7:22 PM on October 16, 2012 [1 favorite]

Besides the good options already listed, another one would be to offer them on your local Freecycle group.

And I don't know where you live, but some music stores (like Amoeba in San Francisco and Berkeley) will buy 45s.
posted by jeri at 10:12 PM on October 17, 2012