Needle Type?

[Victor78]

I have had a few of these found in machines that I purchased, and I thought at one time I had some documentation, or advertisements for this type, but darned if I can find them. Anyone have any scans or articles on this type of needle? If I remember correctly, depending on if the 'spade' was turned parallel or perpendicular to the grooves of the record, it would play louder or softer. I just acquired a few machines yesterday, and there were 45 of these needles in one of the tins. About half were unused. Im working on a needle collection and will post a few pics of what I have done with them (after my battery is done charging). Thanks for any help!

- Jim

[JohnM]

Are these Wall-Kane needles?

John M

[estott]

I've seen these sold in 1900's Sears catalogs, they were just called Spear Point needles.

[gramophoneshane]

There were many manufacturers & brand names for these needles- many of them German.
Here's a packet I got the other day, but I'm sure I've got others or some pamphlets in my computer. I'll have a look later today.

[Victor78]

Thanks Shane, it will be interesting to see what other name brands they were sold as. I went through my bookmarks, and found that I has saved the information from here: http://vwgc.org.au/needles/NeedlesOverview.htm I think this is where I first saw them, but Im sure I had a scan or something from someone. Oh well.

As promised: As I started finding different types of needles in machines that I picked up, I went through my rather large tin of used needles a while back. Instead of just 'having' them in a tin, I thought it would be neat to somehow display them. I took the board (without the magnifier at the time) to one of our meetings. There was some interest and lots of cool comments, but the one that stuck was something to the fact that it would be nice to be able to see them up close. Since I used to build circuit boards in a previous life, I had some left over "helping hands". I took that apart and used parts of the movable arm, and the magnifier and mounted it to the back of the board. Now, you are able to move the arm around to take a look at the different types of needles. The 45 or so spade type that I got yesterday, were very similar to whats in the third row, so I dont think I'll add any of those to the board but will be on the lookout for any other types that I dont have, to add to the collection. It was a fun little project, and something others can enjoy and learn from if they have not seen many different types of needles.

- Jim

[JohnM]

Very cool setup! Have you ever encountered any of the early bamboo needles that have a round shank at one end to fit the non-triangular reproducer chucks?

I see you have a Bell-Hood in the display, too!

John M

[gramophoneshane]

Not much luck yet finding any pamphlets, but I came across a needle tin picturing the spear point needle. I'll keep searching my computer though

[gramophoneshane]

There are also 2 pictured here, under the names Herald & Imperial. Note the Herald has the brand name engraved on the needle shank.

http://vwgc.org.au/needles/NeedlesOverview.htm

[B.B.B]

What a nice display for needles! Very neat idea i must say.

I have some of those spear points, found in a Polydor tin, but it was a messed up mixed of bronze needles, some regular soft tones & and a few utterly strange ones, super-thin with very thin wiring on the top.
So I can't be sure if they are Polydors or not. But from what I have read, the use for spear point needles were that they can serve as either soft or loud, depending on the position chosen.

[Victor78]

Shane, that needle tin is awesome! Would love to find one of those I did have that link in my previous post, and got to looking at it in detail last night. The "wave needle" would be a great addition for this project. I do have to credit Bob Coon for my Herold needles in the first row. He and I were discussing tungs-tone needles one day, and he brought out a tin of Herold spade types, and that eventually became the start of the project, so thanks Bob!

JohnM - The bamboo with the rounded shank are pictured on the site Shane and I posted. Ive never run into one of those, yet, and If I do, it will go into the board. Thanks for the comment! Also to B.B.B. for the nice comments as well.

What I would like to do next is write up a 'map' of the board and describe each needle and provide any information I can about it, and why it was made the way it is, and of course credit the people that were kind enough to donate special needles (hint?) . It was quite the conversation piece at the meeting. One note: The website is spelling Herald with an A, and I looked at the ones I have, and it's spelled Herold. Maybe two different brand names? I'll have to contact Bob and see if his tin had the name on it. I know, maybe a minor detail, or it's the true phono-geek showing through