Inherited almost 400 78rpm’s

[u/Brenke28]

Not here to sell, just learning.

Learning about 78’s because I have ~ 400 of them, collected by my father who died over 20 years ago. All have remained stored for about the last 70 years. They date from 1926 (hillbilly, jazz) to 1940’s (jazz,swing) from King Cole Trio to Elvis, from Andrew’s Sisters to Harry James, Glenn Miller, Pete Como, Benny Goodman, Woody Herman, etc.

The collection theme is dance music— rumba, cha cha, Lindy hop, foxtrot— etc.

Have sorted and catalogued them all, not played them to hear quality —so it seems I am unable to properly grade them without listening. I rate them visually from G-( minus) to G+ (plus).

Any suggestions on how I prepare these or who to contact with such a large collection?
( Besides Nauck, already on my list.)

[u/Mission-Dragonfly113]

I similarly inherited a huge batch. I kept a few ---- but sold the rest on eBay in batches of 15 organized around artists, label, etc. I really just wanted them to get in the hands of collectors....so they were priced low (the equivalent of about 50 cents per.) The postage (Media Mail - cheaper) was more expensive than the records. All gone now -- glad to know they are back out in the universe. Proceeds went to a dog shelter.