If you have some free time and are open for finding things: Japan is a great place to be in! Flea markets, second hand shops or so called “junk shops” can often be found in un-trendy or in the older and slightly run down parts of the cities. Here is the paradise of old stuff, vintage graphics, dolls, characters or - in my case - old, wobbly flexible records!
written by Uleshka
Whow! Do you still remember those? They came in all styles, sizes, colors and shapes, but when records got less popular most of those precious items simply disappeared!
(I filmed one of these as I tried to play it, but it was certainly too wavy…..)
Good to know, that Japanese are simply the best when it comes to “keeping and archiving”! I discovered a whole stack of wobbly history. However - “These won’t come cheap!”, is what the man in the shop told me right away.
Well - I got a good bargain price, anyway…
Here is my personal selection for PingMag:
This record on the right had this strange 3D effect printing you saw in the 80ies sometimes. I made a little recording for you here. Maybe you can get the idea better when it actually turns.
The most common color for those flexible discs is definitely red. (Here is a recording of a red Ultraman one!)
Many of them also had beautiful books with stylish graphics.
This following record with tunes from my favorite Japanese island Sado had a beautifully printed picture record.
Sado o tazunete (visiting Sado)record cover
flexible picture record
And dancing instructions in the booklet to learn the traditional dance along with the music.
Listen and watch the Sado record here.
I became a big fan of this album called Miwaku no clarinette (fascinating clarinette) for their very stylish graphics:
And all three records in this amazing book had a beautiful print on them!
You can listen and watch this last one here.
Here is another interesting shape - it had little handles, so you could file it better. Nice graphics, too! And an amazing title: Shinjyu, Sake, Onna (Pearls, Sake, Women) !!!
Now here is one for the boys:
One for dinosaur fans:
And finally: a sweet one for kids!
And if you want to know how they are actually made: Click here! (Sorry - Japanese only, but nice pictures…)
19 Comments
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None found
how absolutely orgasmic is this!!!!????
I’ve been waiting for something like this for toooo long!
finally!!! more, more!!
(hey, but don’t use those needles for those treasures ! blasphemy! )
Posted by: ill p.e. on March 27th, 2006 at 11:00 pm
blasphemy? for the needles or the records? for SHURE!
Posted by: carniceria on March 28th, 2006 at 3:55 am
Cool! I really like the one with Astro Boy (Atomu) on it.
Posted by: bentong on March 28th, 2006 at 4:08 am
I was surprised to listen to the sounds these thin sheets play!!
I like the graphic of “佐渡を旅して”(composition is so cool!) and “真珠 酒 女”(calm, modesty…).
Posted by: tetsu on March 28th, 2006 at 1:34 pm
I like those graphic design, looks really great.
Posted by: X-NoIsE on March 28th, 2006 at 3:01 pm
lovely pice of graphic design history.
Posted by: kuba on March 28th, 2006 at 5:04 pm
These are so freakin’ cool! Uleshka, can you give some more detailed hints of where to find them?
Posted by: Chidade on April 3rd, 2006 at 1:13 pm
errr…. THAT is the trick, I suppose! There is no specific place: flea markets, recycle shops, junk shops…. good luck ;-)
Posted by: Uleshka on April 3rd, 2006 at 3:02 pm
Really lovely, wonderful pieces of moments, as well as pieces of elegant Japan.
Posted by: ヤーッコ on August 2nd, 2006 at 9:40 am
Old wobbly flexible records… Amazing. Never ever heard of them before! Will be keeping a sharp eye out now though!
The last one seems a bit scary for kidz?!
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Posted by: goruntulu sohbet on July 22nd, 2011 at 5:04 am
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Posted by: All Failure on October 22nd, 2011 at 12:56 am
Very Nice! makes me remind the coloured performance of the early pink floyd!
Posted by: christian louboutin on November 10th, 2011 at 1:05 pm
Very Good content. Its excellent for design world and Japan.
Posted by: Kindle on November 14th, 2011 at 3:34 pm
Thanks for the article and good techniqueto share.
Posted by: jokoman on December 16th, 2011 at 7:02 pm
Posted on You could have teouhcd them up by hand…ahh well, next time right?! ;)
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Posted by: ncughcrew on February 9th, 2012 at 1:29 am
Wobbly record graphics good post1733
Posted by: bladeless fan on April 21st, 2012 at 7:19 pm