The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Columbia had some very early toy discs, which were vertical cut brown wax discs. I believe they were 2" or 3" diameter. They also happen to be as rare as 5" Berliners.

There are several French labels besides Pathé with vertical cut records, like Ideal and Opera

CarlosV wrote:There are several French labels besides Pathé with vertical cut records, like Ideal and Opera

...and another I'd forgotten, Disque Aerophone.

A lot of the world Broadcasting System Radio transcriptions (made by WE) are vertical and are as quiet as an LP and some
Go out to 14000 cps

Most everybody knows Bing Crosby's White Christmas. He recorded it twice in identical arrangements, in 1942 and 1947. Most today probably know the 1947, which was a vertical cut World Broadcasting System transcription. It was made to replace the 1942 master which was damaged somehow or worn out.

Phonofreak wrote:Another record is the early Okeh with the Indian on the label. It says on the label to use sapphire stylus. The later ones were needle cut.
Harvey Kravitz

On the one vertical Okeh I have, there is no mention of a sapphire stylus.

If, indeed, they used a sapphire, what size and shape was it?

Bill

Same here. I have several "Indian Head" vertical Okeh's and IIRC, none of them bear any exhortation to use a sapphire ball stylus.

Wolfe wrote:Same here. I have several "Indian Head" vertical Okeh's and IIRC, none of them bear any exhortation to use a sapphire ball stylus.

I wonder if the original mention of OKeh was confusing it with Rishell or Rex? Those do urge the owner to play them with a Rishell sapphire ball or a "jewel point"/"sapphire needle" (depending on the label variant), respectively.

drh wrote:

Wolfe wrote:Same here. I have several "Indian Head" vertical Okeh's and IIRC, none of them bear any exhortation to use a sapphire ball stylus.

I wonder if the original mention of OKeh was confusing it with Rishell or Rex? Those do urge the owner to play them with a Rishell sapphire ball or a "jewel point"/"sapphire needle" (depending on the label variant), respectively.

No, there are Okeh verticals - in fact some of the later indian head labels say LATERAL in big letters. These verticals play well with a Pathé ball.

But the vertical Okeh's don't state anything about sapphire ball on the label, as far as I've seen. I'd be interested to see one if they exist. Indeed, when they went lateral there is a large LATERAL on the label.

Early on, Otto Heineman did start recording Okeh masters in the old Rex studio in New York. Heineman had purchased that studio, so that does lend more credence to the early Okeh's being sapphire ball records. I've never played vertical Okeh or Rex records on vintage machines, only my Hi-Fi. But they both play fine with regular 78 styli, unlike Pathé, which are much more finicky regarding skipping / skating.