Does anyone know about putting marker on CDs?

It was done on purpose . Some buyers may be turned off . Just disclose they have the ink on them when selling .

Here are a couple of articles.  It was a wide spread practice in the late 1980's & 1990's.  Many believed in it and many didn't.

http://www.stereophile.com/reference/590jitter/

http://www.snopes.com/music/media/marker.asp

They are not "damaged" in any way.  They should still play fine.

Just for the record (no pun intended) the colors on the CDs you acquired are actually reversed and that will unfortunately hurt the sound of all of the CDs, rather than improve the sound. Green ink should be only used on the outer edge and black ink only used on the inner lip around the spindle hole. No wonder he got rid of the CDs. You can remove the offending ink with isopropyl alcohol.

Don't want to think ill of him. He didn't actually get rid of them. He passed away. His wife gave them to me. I thought the grandkids got into them but she assured me they did not. So I went on a marker information hunt. I must admit I am surprised to find this practice. Usually when I treasure something, I keep it in pristine condition - like books - I would never make a mark in them.

I have so many CDs that I cannot clean them so I will just note it when I will sell them. I hope the impact to price makes them still worth the selling effort.

Thank you for the information.

"the colors on the CDs you acquired are actually reversed and that will unfortunately hurt the sound of all of the CDs, rather than improve the sound."

IMHO, it doesn’t matter one way or the other, but it certainly won’t "hurt" the sound.

Many actually started using black or purple to color CDs with, instead of green.

Mofimadness wrote,

""the colors on the CDs you acquired are actually reversed and that will unfortunately hurt the sound of all of the CDs, rather than improve the sound."
IMHO, it doesn’t matter one way or the other, but it certainly won’t "hurt" the sound.

Many actually started using black or purple to color CDs with, instead of green."

Using black on the outer edge is a big mistake. Purple is not, even though the color purple makes no sense, you know, what with the color of the CD laser and everything. Bet you a cup of coffee you never heard of anyone using orange. Just to confuse you a little bit more even the color of the CD label affects the sound and usually for the worse. Why? Answer at 11.

The Auric Illuminator kit supplies a black marker for application to the rim and central area (both sides) of a CD.

Ghosthouse wrote,

"The Auric Illuminator kit supplies a black marker for application to the rim and central area (both sides) of a CD."

Yes, I’m aware. Apparently Auric Illuminator never got the memo.

To recap: black is only for the inner lip, that part that touches the spindle. Everywhere else, including anywhere on the surface of the CD, black hurts the sound. I also color the data side of the CD in a very limited but important way.  I actually use four count em colors. . Don’t try this at home, kids.

To recap:  Your CDs are fine.

You can remove Permanent marker by applying Dry Erase marker on the top and wiping it off.

You could contact RTI and see if their machines could remove the ink.
I bought their Pro model to remove scratches and polish my aging discs.

"You could contact RTI and see if their machines could remove the ink.
I bought their Pro model to remove scratches and polish my aging discs."

Shirley you jest.

Mofimadness wrote,

"To recap: Your CDs are fine."

I almost forgot.  Perfect sound forever. 

Or... you can send them to me... and... for $5 per disc + shipping I will inspect them, clean them and make sure the black, green, purple, etc. marker is in the proper location... or... remove them if you prefer.

And... I’ll provide a guarantee they will sound as never before!

Just sayin’ - I’m here to serve for a very nominal fee!