Alloy Needles - claim to play 100 records?

[ymg200]

These needles came with my phonograph and they claim to play 100 records each!
I used one of these needles once when testing the phonograph, then ordered new needles from Walt Sommers.
These Victory needles claim to be some alloy. The package looks old, could have originally come with the machine.
Did anyone encounter these magic needles claiming to play 100 records?
Thank you.

[VanEpsFan1914]

Steel was rationed during World War II. Look at the font & packaging--these are way too modern for a 1910s-1920s record player. These are not made for a windup phonograph, but for an old-fashioned electric phonograph with crystal pickup.

No, they're not that magical needle and you're still going to have to change them after every play, but I'd honestly not bother using those, and keep them instead as historical artifacts.

[startgroove]

By WW2, there were several alternate materials used in needles. The word "Alloy" could mean anything, including combining with Tungsten or Chromium. I don't think those in your picture are Osmium, as those would last over a thousand plays.

As VanEpsFan says, those are likely not good for use on an acoustic pick-up, rather for an electrically amplified machine with crystal pick-up.

That said, I think those make a great display piece. The colors, style and wording suggest war time manufacture.

[phonojim]

Those needles would have been intended for use with the more modern crystal pickups which came into use beginning in the mid 1930s. This type of pickup was much lighter in weight than previous magnetic and acoustic pickups (although still heavy by modern standards) and when combined with records with records which were by then far less abrasive would give greater needle life and less record wear.

Jim

[JerryVan]

All steel is an alloy. Minimally, an alloy of iron & carbon. So, stating "alloy" says very little. If these were made during the war years, I doubt that they would have used precious chromium, nickle, or tungsten, unless maybe claiming 100 plays, and selling only in packs of 6, gave them the ability to do so. Factoring in that tone arm pressures would have been well reduced by then, and abrasive additives to records would be gone or reduced, the manufacturer may have able to make the 100 record claim. However, as others have stated, using them on an acoustic era phonograph, while playing acoustic era records, would probably achieve the same performance as any other steel needle you're accustomed to.

EDIT: I see Jim beat me to the "Submit" button!

[startgroove]

Jerry, I don't see that those needles are steel alloy, unless I missed something (if so, perhaps you could set me straight).
It just says "alloy". There must be hundreds of non-steel alloys, and probably several of them are suitable for use as needle material. I suppose the question is, what alloy are they? Cheers, Russie

[JerryVan]

Jerry, I don't see that those needles are steel alloy, unless I missed something (if so, perhaps you could set me straight).
It just says "alloy". There must be hundreds of non-steel alloys, and probably several of them are suitable for use as needle material. I suppose the question is, what alloy are they? Cheers, Russie

Perhaps it is you that has set me straight. What other alloy do you suggest?

[startgroove]

Jerry, I'm not sure of all alloys that were used in needles. Here two pics of some. The first one is of Chromium or Chromium Alloy along with an example of Tungsten Alloy needles (for consumer phonograph use). The second picture shows several Osmium Alloy needles (mostly post WW2 for coin machine use, although Osmium is known to have been used in needles in the early 1930's). The exact alloys are unknown to me. Cheers, Russie

[ymg200]

Thanks all! I appreciate learning about the background of my needles. I'll return the one that I used to the package and keep it as a historical artifact. My machine came with a couple of original Victrola brochures, that's why I thought that these needles could also be original.

[JerryVan]

Jerry, I'm not sure of all alloys that were used in needles. Here two pics of some. The first one is of Chromium or Chromium Alloy along with an example of Tungsten Alloy needles (for consumer phonograph use). The second picture shows several Osmium Alloy needles (mostly post WW2 for coin machine use, although Osmium is known to have been used in needles in the early 1930's). The exact alloys are unknown to me. Cheers, Russie

Russie,

I suppose it could be one of those materials as well. I thought "steel" as the packaging seemed a little wimpy in claiming anything exotic, and really 100 plays, compared to those other product claims, also seemed a bit meek. Thanks!