How to play Marconi Velvet Tone records?

[52089]

I recently bought a very nice group of records that included one Marconi Velvet Tone disc. These are sort of like an early version of flexi-discs. The material seems closer to vinyl than shellac. Because of that, you're not supposed to play these with a steel needle. A special gold-plated needle is recommended, but who has those? (Most of these, this one included, are found with significant wear from owners who used steel needles on them.)

What is the recommended method for playing these now? Would thorn or fiber needles be OK, or are these best played with modern equipment only?

[Joseph Clack]

I've got a couple and they play well on a modern machine.

[Wolfe]

It's a celluloid record. They were taken off the market due to excessive wear problems and using a gold plated needle in heavy mechanical soundbox isn't going to make much difference.

[epigramophone]

Trailer needles, recommended for flexible records such as Filmophones, might be worth a try.

[Phonofreak]

I would not play these acoustically. These should be played on a modern turntable. These records are very scarce, and few survived. After they were torn to shreds from steel and the gold needles, most were tossed in the trash. To me, these are more of a curio than a serious record to play.
Harvey Kravitz

[AmberolaAndy]

I only have one of these records in my collection, and it plays fine on a modern turntable.

[MisterGramophone]

You need a Marconi gold-plated needle and a gramophone that plays laterals.

[MisterGramophone]

I would not play these acoustically. These should be played on a modern turntable. These records are very scarce, and few survived. After they were torn to shreds from steel and the gold needles, most were tossed in the trash. To me, these are more of a curio than a serious record to play.
Harvey Kravitz

These will be shredded even by the needles designed for them? How bad was this design???

[Liamhamb30]

I would not play these acoustically. These should be played on a modern turntable. These records are very scarce, and few survived. After they were torn to shreds from steel and the gold needles, most were tossed in the trash. To me, these are more of a curio than a serious record to play.
Harvey Kravitz

These will be shredded even by the needles designed for them? How bad was this design???

The base material for Marconi records isn't like normal shellac records, it's almost like a laminated cardboard. I'd compare it most to Durium records from the 30s. At this point, they're too valuable and old compared to other "cardboard" records to risk being played by a heavy steel needles. Best to be cautious and use modern turntables with lightweight pickups.

[MisterGramophone]

I would not play these acoustically. These should be played on a modern turntable. These records are very scarce, and few survived. After they were torn to shreds from steel and the gold needles, most were tossed in the trash. To me, these are more of a curio than a serious record to play.
Harvey Kravitz

These will be shredded even by the needles designed for them? How bad was this design???

The base material for Marconi records isn't like normal shellac records, it's almost like a laminated cardboard. I'd compare it most to Durium records from the 30s. At this point, they're too valuable and old compared to other "cardboard" records to risk being played by a heavy steel needles. Best to be cautious and use modern turntables with lightweight pickups.

So, I can’t use an original Marconi gold-plated needle to play Marconi records on an original gramophone?