The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Before I knew any better I bought a DD record that when I look at it now, had obviously been played with a steel needle. I used it to demonstrate my Edison to guests and after a few plays my dance reproducer would only play this record while all others sounded bad. I'm guessing that it damaged the diamond which is a real shame because it sounded great.

I have a feeling it isnt a steel needle but a diamond tipped stylus he is using in place of a steel needle.

Nope, it's almost certainly steel. Check the video comments- he seems a nice guy but clueless.

Well, I learned something here.

I've always been under the impression that playing a DD with a steel needle/lateral soundbox would not only destroy the record, but would produce no music either, just groove noise...interesting.

What might be interesting, would be to hear a DD played on an Orthophonic, using one of those adapters that offsets the stylus so the vertical modulations are properly reproduced.

What a horribly painful experience !!! He should have just taken the record and hit it with a 10 lb. sledge hammer !! The destruction would have been quick and far less painful !!

Wolfe wrote:Well, I learned something here.

I've always been under the impression that playing a DD with a steel needle/lateral soundbox would not only destroy the record, but would produce no music either, just groove noise...interesting.

I have a feeling the camera this guy used has an automatic volume leveller built in.
Usually the volume of a vertical cut disc being played with a lateral soundbox is extremely low & muffled, much the same as playing a DD on a modern TT without altering the cartridge polarity.
I guess this is why the motor noise at the beginning seems to be about the same volume as the music.

I sent the guy the link to our forum..I am sure he will learn quite a lot.

Looking at the comments on the YouTube posting, the guy wised up. Good thing; the person who posted the warning to him saved another soul for Edison.

That's the good news.

The bad news: why, oh why, did it have to be the Charlie Skeets record?????

!