Does my 1920s gramophone damage newer records?

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Patheno0
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Does my 1920s gramophone damage newer records?

Post by Patheno0 »

Hi, I can't really find anything on my gramophone, it's a Jedson Triphonic, made in Wales.
A guy on reddit told me it is a 1920s Columbia knock-off, and that I shouldn't play records on it made after 1925, is this true?
Does it ruin my records? I don't hear anything yet but I only have one record from 1921 and the rest are all after 1930.
Please let me know if this is an issue.

Woody
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Re: Does my 1920s gramophone damage newer records?

Post by Woody »

The biggest issue with post-1925 records is that they were electrically recorded, and machines from after 1925 tend to capture the sound improvements better. But it’s not like everyone’s phonographs suddenly became obsolete in 1925. Wind-up acoustic machines were still being produced in the 1940s (and maybe later?).

Use soft-tone needles and change the needle after every play—meaning two needles for one 78–and you should be fine.

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Patheno0
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Re: Does my 1920s gramophone damage newer records?

Post by Patheno0 »

Thanks I was a bit worried. Is it really true that you need to change the needle once per side of a record?

JerryVan
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Re: Does my 1920s gramophone damage newer records?

Post by JerryVan »

Patheno0 wrote: Fri Dec 06, 2024 5:53 pm Thanks I was a bit worried. Is it really true that you need to change the needle once per side of a record?
Yes, if you care about your records. Also, the records just plain sound better with a fresh needle.

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Re: Does my 1920s gramophone damage newer records?

Post by OrthoFan »

Woody wrote: Fri Dec 06, 2024 4:38 pm .... Wind-up acoustic machines were still being produced in the 1940s (and maybe later?).
I know that, in the US, they were still sold by Sears as late as 1956. Here's the page from the 1955 Spring & Summer Catalog showing their remaining model, as well as replacement parts for acoustic phonographs.
1955 Sears Spring & Summer Catalog Page.jpg
(Click to Enlarge)
From: https://christmas.musetechnical.com/
Patheno0 wrote: Fri Dec 06, 2024 2:20 pm Hi, I can't really find anything on my gramophone, it's a Jedson Triphonic, made in Wales.
A guy on reddit told me it is a 1920s Columbia knock-off, and that I shouldn't play records on it made after 1925, is this true?
Does it ruin my records? I don't hear anything yet but I only have one record from 1921 and the rest are all after 1930.
Please let me know if this is an issue.
If you have a chance, please post a photo of your gramophone. That will help us date it.

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epigramophone
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Re: Does my 1920s gramophone damage newer records?

Post by epigramophone »

Patheno0 wrote: Fri Dec 06, 2024 5:53 pm Thanks I was a bit worried. Is it really true that you need to change the needle once per side of a record?
Here are some Jedson Triphonic needles. They are known as Spearpoint needles, and were marketed by several manufacturers.
They were said to vary the volume depending on the orientation of the needle in the chuck, and there is the usual reminder to use each needle once only. Good advice, but of course the manufacturers wanted their customers to buy as many needles as possible.
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Patheno0
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Re: Does my 1920s gramophone damage newer records?

Post by Patheno0 »

I have a few of those spear pointed needles, I was wondering what they were thanks.

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Patheno0
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Re: Does my 1920s gramophone damage newer records?

Post by Patheno0 »

20241021_143033.jpg
Here's my machine by the way, I hope you can find out something about it, I haven't been able to find anything online.

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epigramophone
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Re: Does my 1920s gramophone damage newer records?

Post by epigramophone »

Your Reddit "Expert" was wrong on both counts. It is not a "Columbia knock-off" whatever that is supposed to mean, and you can play electrically recorded 78's on it. So much for the wisdom of soclal media.
Here is an old thread about Jedson. Unfortunately the accompanying pictures have long since disappeared.
viewtopic.php?t=14060

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Patheno0
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Re: Does my 1920s gramophone damage newer records?

Post by Patheno0 »

Thank you, now I know a bit more about my machine, would love to know which year it was built but that's impossible to find.

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