(Cactus) thorn needles

[bart1927]

I just stumbled onto this YouTube clip (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5o6cy78u-E) and was really impressed with the sound quality. At first I thought it was a trick, and that the music had been dubbed using a modern records player. But in fact, what we were hearing was this very machine. But instead of a steel needle, a cactus thorn needle had been used.

So I was wondering, where exactly can you get these needles? Or are you just supposed to buy a cactus and clip off the needles?

Many years ago I bought a needle sharpener (see photo). Are these intended to sharpen thorn needles? When I bought it, it came with one needle inserted in the shaft. Does anyone know what kind of needle this is? It doesn't look like a thorn, but it doesn't look like fibre/bamboo either, because aren't the latter always triangular in shape?

[barnettrp21122]

I just stumbled onto this YouTube clip (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5o6cy78u-E) and was really impressed with the sound quality. At first I thought it was a trick, and that the music had been dubbed using a modern records player. But in fact, what we were hearing was this very machine. But instead of a steel needle, a cactus thorn needle had been used.

So I was wondering, where exactly can you get these needles? Or are you just supposed to buy a cactus and clip off the needles?

Many years ago I bought a needle sharpener (see photo). Are these intended to sharpen thorn needles? When I bought it, it came with one needle inserted in the shaft. Does anyone know what kind of needle this is? It doesn't look like a thorn, but it doesn't look like fibre/bamboo either, because aren't the latter always triangular in shape?

That's my youtube video!
As you can hear, the sound from the Orthophonic machines can be wonderful!
Your pictured sharpener is designed for thorn needles. It looks like the needle in it is cactus.
Here's a good thread covering some aspects of making thorn needles:

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... it=+cactus
Bob

[epigramophone]

The needle pictured looks like a Burmese Thorn to me.

I buy mine from David Williams at GBP£26 per 100 including postage within the UK. As far as I know David has no email address, but I will ask whether he will allow me to post his contact details on this forum.

Meanwhile, here is a guide to the manufacture of thorn needles which David was kind enough to send me :

[estott]

American made thorn needles did use cactus thorns, generally from the Saguaro cactus which is now strictly protected. Old stock packets can be found on Ebay from time to time, the best brand was Kacti, made and sold by Peter Grey. Grey was a bit of a con artist & was legally censured for claiming that records would "Never wear out" with his needles, and that they could restore the quality of old discs.

Other brands found in the US are Duotone, Red Top, and Decca.

[Lucius1958]

The needle pictured looks like a Burmese Thorn to me.

I buy mine from David Williams at GBP£26 per 100 including postage within the UK. As far as I know David has no email address, but I will ask whether he will allow me to post his contact details on this forum.

Meanwhile, here is a guide to the manufacture of thorn needles which David was kind enough to send me :

Considering that botanists in the US were recently able to resurrect a now-extinct squash from centuries-old seeds, I wonder whether the Burmese thorn bush could be revived? Surely there must be a museum somewhere that has preserved specimens -perhaps with seeds?

Bill

[epigramophone]

The needle pictured looks like a Burmese Thorn to me.

I buy mine from David Williams at GBP£26 per 100 including postage within the UK. As far as I know David has no email address, but I will ask whether he will allow me to post his contact details on this forum.

Meanwhile, here is a guide to the manufacture of thorn needles which David was kind enough to send me :

I have spoken to David and here with his permission is his business card. He is happy to fulfil orders from outside the UK, but please be aware that he does not have internet access :

[SteveM]

I posted this photo a long time ago of a tree I have, wondering if it was a honey locust. Turns out (after I recently walked by it and discovered it has fruit ) that it's a quince. I haven't had much luck with the thorns. I soaked them in gum arabic for the specified time ... dried them in the sun ... they don't really stand up. I may try again. They keep calling to me! Then I could get a sharpener like that. Btw, the sharpener would also probably be good for the toothpicks that I sometimes use, as well.

[Henry]

Steve, the honey locust is a regular tree with clusters of thorns all along the trunk and branches. It's not a bush or tangle like the image in your post, as you've already discovered. The honey locust grows in our area of S.E. Pa. I have gathered thorns off of a specimen in the Trexler Nature Preserve in Lehigh County, near me. In my experience, the thorns are not very durable, and the sound tends to be somewhat muffled. This is using an untreated thorn. I haven't experimented with various soaks, coatings, etc. The results I've obtained with several natural thorns have not persuaded me to abandon soft-tone steel needles---not yet, at any rate.

[nalanotrig]

Here is something I came across while sorting my Dad's collections. Just thought it was interesting.