Needles for Old and New 78s

[Henry]

Thanks for all of the responses and comments. Below are the numbers off of some of the records that I know were played on the Victrola in the 1920s. That's because the unit has been in my family since it was purchased.

Columbia numbers: 79891 145441 145499 15275-D and Victor: 19427-B

The 79891 is a one sided recording from 1912. All of the others were in mid to late 1920s.

I would think all of these would be appropriate to play using the VV-50 and steel needles. Do you all agree and if so, should I only use the needle one time? Thanks again for your help.

Use the needle only once, then discard. And again, don't play "hard plastic/vinyl" records no matter when recorded or by what method---"shellac" only! (NB: We call them "shellac," but the actual formulae were proprietary secrets with each manufacturer. Apparently shellac *was* a key ingredient, along with various fillers and abrasives [to shape the steel needle point to the groove as the record played)]

[epigramophone]

Use the needle only once, then discard. And again, don't play "hard plastic/vinyl" records no matter when recorded or by what method---"shellac" only! (NB: We call them "shellac," but the actual formulae were proprietary secrets with each manufacturer. Apparently shellac *was* a key ingredient, along with various fillers and abrasives [to shape the steel needle point to the groove as the record played)][/quote]

Exactly. The record was supposed to wear the needle, not the other way round, and those who used steel needles as directed had no trouble.

The main abrasive used in the UK mix was slate dust, and the degree of surface noise largely depended on the ratio of shellac to abrasive. Shortage of materials in the UK during World War Two gave rise to a recycing campaign, where old records were ground up and added to the mix. The resulting surfaces were noisy, and we can only speculate on what treasures were lost.

[Henry]

The main abrasive used in the UK mix was slate dust, and the degree of surface noise largely depended on the ratio of shellac to abrasive. Shortage of materials in the UK during World War Two gave rise to a recycing campaign, where old records were ground up and added to the mix. The resulting surfaces were noisy, and we can only speculate on what treasures were lost.

There's been a rumor floating around that some manufacturers use anthracite coal fines as a filler (maybe that's why most records were black?). Where I live (eastern Pennsylvania) there's plenty of that, and also slate quarries (most of them closed now, alas). It would be really neat to know just exactly what materials constituted a particular maker's records.

[operabass78s]

I'm sure if you took a chip of a record to the right chemist, they would be able to determine the composition.

[dd2u]

I was reminded of the present thread when reading page nine of the Expert Gramophone sales brochure here:
http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... 11&t=12196

It says "I have often listened to a good record being played upon an interior horn machine with steel needles and realised that the record has been ruined without the owner hearing half the recording that was actually upon it."

Wise words from 1933.