Sonora Silvered Semi-Permanent Needles, What do you think?

[CharliePhono]

This thread moves me to a confession of sorts: Like the post prior to mine, I too use NOS needles almost exclusively, my favorite being the ones that many of us like -- the Victor half-tones. I grab them when I can and have amassed a nice little stockpile. I'm sure there are those would wince and/or trounce me for simply snipping the tops off their old foxed or disintegrating paper envelopes and emptying the needles into my cardboard container. Of course, I still have one of each type of Victor needle (loud, extra loud, soft, etc.) unopened for display (including the half tone variety), but generally when I find them, I use them. I love their sound and their quality. And, when they're gone, well, they're gone.

[startgroove]

My preference is use new, or common, needles. Any sealed packages of old needles I leave sealed and put them on display in our needles display cabinet. An opened original needle package does not seem as attractive to me when a corner is torn off, or the seal is broken (sometimes resulting in damage to the package).

On another note. Many years ago, I worked at an electronics repair facility at Aberdeen Proving Grounds. A couple of pieces of test equipment had replaceable points, or tips, on them. They were used to puncture the insulation on wires so a reading could be made. When they wore out from numerous puncturings, I replaced them with phonograph needles made by an unknown source, though I do remember the package being blue and white. That was about 1967. Some ten or so years later, I got a VOM that had the same set up. I found that the manufacturer of those test points was Astatic, so I ordered several packages. Somehow I managed to save one package, see below.

The reason for this story is to explain that steel needles were still available until around 1977. They are still great as test probe points!

[Django]

I satisfied my curiosity. I was surprised to see the embossed packaging. I played 2 sides of a Victor record and then I played the same song with a new, modern soft tone needle. I recorded them and I cannot tell the difference. The needle packages have returned to the drawer inside the top of my Sonora. It is a shame that they don’t make them like that any more. It would be nice to change the needle every 25 or so plays, (not that I mind changing a needle. Like cranking it up, it’s part of the experience).