Probably a stupid question, but here it is anyway

[Django]

Here we go, (I am probably late to the party). I always knew early disc records as 78s, or 78 rpm records. The question arises when I look at the early speed controls. My Victrola VV-XVI-B, (early L-Door), has a speed control that is marked 76 rather than 78, (50,60, 70, 76 and 80). My later L-Door, VV-XVI-D is marked 78, (50,60,70,78 and 80). This wasn’t really conclusive, but then I got my Victor D and it has a “Deluxe” speed control, (I need to make a new lever for mine). The interesting thing to me is that there are two pins that are supposed to set the speed between 60 and 76 rpm, (not 78). The L-Door and VTLA still had a range above 76 rpm, but the high end on the lever speed control only goes to 76 rpm, so here is the stupid question: We’re early disc records 76 rpm? If they were 78 rpm, why didn’t the Victor D’s Deluxe speed control go to 78 rpm? (I guess that I really had two questions)

The speed controls shown are on my Pooley VTLA and Victor D. (One good thing about posting pictures is that it reminds me that it is time to dust and remove dog hair.)

[Inigo]

Very curious...

[poodling around]

A very good question - I don't know the answer.

However, it made me laugh because it reminds me of the 'Spinal Tap' film where there is an amplifier which has a volume control which goes up to 11.

Just me then

[Phono-Phan]

I have also wondered why the numbers are like they are. Let's hope some more veteran collectors chime in and explain.

[52089]

I have several batwing era Victor catalogs that say the recommended speed is 76.

[JerryVan]

78 did not become a hard & fast "standard" until later. Many have stated in the past that they have records that seem "right" as low as 60 RPM. Cylinder records can have similar variation as well.

[zipcord]

the "Straight Dope" has been entertaining me for over 30 years:

https://www.straightdope.com/21341404/w ... ole-in-45s

[MarkELynch]

The suggested speed of the 14” Victor Deluxe Special records is 60 RPM. As others have posted, 76 was the suggested speed for the smaller sizes.

The Victor D in the collection (S/N 4105) is equipped with a quick-change speed adjustment to allow it to change between 60 and 76 RPM with the flip of the wire lever. Fine tuning is accomplished with the traditional fine threaded knurled screw. The wire lever rotates a threaded barrel surrounding the knurled screw. The barrel has a coarse thread on the outside which permits is to advance up or down quickly bringing the fine threaded knurled screw in its center along with it.

You can hear the pictured record at i78s.org Sign up for your free user account when prompted.
https://i78s.org/preview/85eb6327d974b9 ... 4d0e113111

Other of these hard to find 14” Victor and Columbia recording can be heard on i78s.org as well.

Mark

[epigramophone]

I was told that the increasing popularity of electric motors led to the standardisation of the playing speed.
A typical electric motor running at 3600rpm with a 46 tooth reduction gear gives a turntable speed of 78.26rpm.
The term "78" only came into general use after WW2 to distinguish them from 33 and 45rpm records.

[Django]

I have an owner’s manual for a Victor II that says the speed is 78 and the Victor Victrola site has a manual for a VV-XI that also says 78. I have not seen anything saying that the speed should be 76 rpm, (of course I have not seen everything).

The first attachment is for a Victor II and the second is for a Victrola VV-XI. Both prior to 1920, but both after the VTLA and Victor D.

My thought is that as the record sizes grew they could speed up the record and still have plenty of play time and that a 2 rpm increase wouldn't be very noticeable when playing a record that was recorded at 76 rpm. Or it might be that they wanted to standardize the speed.