The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Here is a view from 1920.

How many plays do Tungsten needles provide while still offering the same sound quality of a brand new steel needle?

CMcPherson wrote:How many plays do Tungsten needles provide while still offering the same sound quality of a brand new steel needle?

I can't say how many plays, but the sound quality is consistent until the needle wears out. I've used old needles with very short bits of wire that sound just fine until the wire wears so short the brass tube touches the record.

CMcPherson wrote:How many plays do Tungsten needles provide while still offering the same sound quality of a brand new steel needle?

In my limited experience, unless your records are pristine and unworn, the number of plays per needle is rather disappointing considering the cost of new-old-stock needles available in the current market. I'd like to find a shipping crate full of these!
Bob

I want to find out more about the difference between steel and tungsten needles but rather than take this thread off course, I'll start a new one. Thanks guys.

Some of the original needle packages brag they are good for between 100 and 300 plays. They also recommend only using them on electric recordings for best results.

Here's a material that may lend well to making tungsten wire needles. It is .062 O.D. brass tubing, which is the same diameter as the shaft of a Tungs-Tone needle. The I.D. is unknown by me, but it looks large enough to fit a wire through, which can then be crimped or otherwise fixed to the tube. This came from a Hobby Store.

I haven't counted but it seems like the needles on my 10-50 playing good quality Victor scrolls last about 100-150 plays.

Silvertone wrote:Here is a view from 1920.

Amazing: line shaft and belting! What a bowl of spaghetti; I can just imagine the hum of all those rotating parts! And plenty enough exposed machinery to give OSHA fits!

I guess things have improved in some ways.