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Some of the earliest 78 RPM jukeboxes used set-screw-mounted straight, sapphire-tipped, needles/styli.
These appear to be not entirely dissimilar to conventional loud-tone steel needles for acoustic machines, although the diameter of the shafts here seems a bit larger than what the needle chuck of an acoustic machine might accommodate.
Has anyone ever tried using a sapphire-tipped stylus with an accoustic machine?
Jukebox Sapphire Styli?
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OrthoFan
- Victor V
- Posts: 2390
- Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2016 7:12 pm
Re: Jukebox Sapphire Styli?
I tried a sapphire tipped "needle" as well as one with an osmium tip on my erstwhile Credenza. Both caused immediate record damage on shellac records. The tips were coated with fine black dust. I've heard using a carefully adjusted counter-weight will enable them to be used safely, but have never tried this.
OrthoFan
OrthoFan
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Lah Ca
- Victor IV
- Posts: 1238
- Joined: Sun Nov 21, 2021 10:22 pm
Re: Jukebox Sapphire Styli?
Thank you for sharing your experience.OrthoFan wrote: Mon Aug 12, 2024 3:00 pm I tried a sapphire tipped "needle" as well as one with an osmium tip on my erstwhile Credenza. Both caused immediate record damage on shellac records. The tips were coated with fine black dust. I've heard using a carefully adjusted counter-weight will enable them to be used safely, but have never tried this.
OrthoFan