The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I never knew that there were so many different types of steel needles. Does anyone know what "advantage" the wiggly needles were advertised as having? Or come to it those ones with the wire wrapped around the end? I can't imagine what benefit these were supposed to have.

RJ

richardh wrote:I never knew that there were so many different types of steel needles. Does anyone know what "advantage" the wiggly needles were advertised as having? Or come to it those ones with the wire wrapped around the end? I can't imagine what benefit these were supposed to have.

RJ

I can only answer for the ones with the wire-wrapping.
I now I have read somewere, but I just can't remember were, that these are extra soft needles, & the wire is there because they are so thin, that the screw can't get a good grip on them.
And since they came from me, I have tried them & they are indeed very quiet.
I now Laubscher have a similar design, the upper part of the needle is always the same size, its the bottom half that decided the loudness with increasing thickness.

WDC wrote:Some few more needle shapes:

From left to right:

1. Phonycord strong
2. Herold
3. Ondulette soft
4. Herold
5. Pegasus
6. Herold
7. Herold

Those are great! I do have #6 in the board, but the rest of them would look great in the collection. Thanks for sharing them!

Shane, thanks for those images. A friend of mine has the Ondulette tin along with the Escala tin you posted earlier, two of the things on my find list The Doggies little friend tin is great as well!

Victor78 wrote:Quick update on the "Needle Board". Thanks to B.B.B. and Neophone for their donations, they were greatly appreciated!
- Jim

Jim,

My pleasure. Happy to help along the collection. Did you get the fibre needle glued back together alright? There's another on its way to you as of this morning. Hopefully it survives the trip better.

Regards,
John

I gave it shot of super glue, and it dried almost instantly and I didnt have much time to set the halves together. It will do for now, and we'll see how the next one survives the trip. I greatly appreciate your effort!

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I found about 50 of these in a mix of needles I had. They are .02" in diameter. Must be some sort of extra soft tone because they are very quiet. Shown next to a fiber needle for size comparison. I told my wife these are for when she is in bed, and I want to listen to a few records

I picked up this empty packet a few weeks ago, and I can't say I've ever come across a "concaved" fibre needle before.
As Richard mentioned, you really have to wonder what the "supposed" advantage of some designs were. Especially considering the added cost of manufacturing some of them.
I also have to wonder just how some of them were made to such high standards. I can't imagine it would be any easy task to tumble those wave needles to achieve the perfect point, or were such needles shaped as the last part of the process?