"Universal cut" records (aka Emerson Records)

[pughphonos]

Hi folks. I can now play vertical-cut records requiring a sapphire stylus as I am the new owner of a Pathé Actuelle phonograph. I am now interested in examples of the vertical records of the late 1910s (apart from Edison and Pathé, which are easy to find).

I've read that Emerson Records (before 1920) had an interesting "universal cut." That is, the grooves with their recording surfaces were set at 45 degree angles and therefore posited the music at an angle that could be tracked by both vertical and lateral styli--hence the "universal" claim. I've now assembled a starter collection of Emersons (a whopping five!) and they all seem to be of early date. One is of "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles." I mean, how 1919 can you get!

Thing is, they all seem to play well as laterals but NOT as verticals. One would think that if Emerson produced masters before 1920 that used the universal cut, that could not have been "undone" for future pressings that would be lateral only. Any universal cut (and/or Emerson) people out there who could shed some light?

Ralph

[Wolfe]

Are you trying to use a large Pathé sapphire ball stylus to play them? That may be your problem.

Pathé Actuelle records are meant to be played with a needle, so play your Emerson with a needle if you have one. I don't know what the exact setup on your phono is.

[pughphonos]

Hi Wolfe, yes, I tried a Pathé sapphire stylus. BTW, the Pathé Actuelle machines have a cone reproducer that serves as its speaker, and one is able to give it a quarter turn in either direction for either vertical or lateral reproduction (while also switching to proper stylus, of course).

My next question for you, then, is: is there another kind of sapphire stylus out there (non-Pathé) for playing the Emersons in their vertical capacities?

Ralph

[Wolfe]

The Emerson is fine to play with a regular steel needle. The problem with your sapphire stylus in vertical mode is that it's too large to track down in the bottom of the 45 degree groove, you need a tapered point for that.

The Pathé verticals were cut with a wide shallow groove that was quite different from other records.

[pughphonos]

Thanks, Wolfe. That's the fun (and crazy) thing about the antique phonograph hobby: one can choose so many angles to chase. So, if I want to hear those Emersons play as verticals I have to find a tapered sapphire stylus and not the wide Pathé variant. Are those tapered sapphire styli readily available, or are they long out of production? I understand that Vocalion, Grey Gull, and a few other labels started out as vertical cuts and they too would probably require the tapered sapphire.

[Wolfe]

Just a regular old steel needle will do it, slot one into the chuck and go for it. It won't damage the record anymore than it was intended to be damaged, the vertical modulations (cut at a 45 degree angle) in a 'universal' record such as yours probably didn't wear too well under heavy tracking weights of mechanical reproducers.

They didn't make any tapered sapphire points in those days, as far as I know.

[gramophoneshane]

Emerson records were indeed designed to be played with a steel needle.
The bad news is that you may have actually damaged your sapphire stylus by attempting to play your Emersons with it.
Shellac discs that were designed to be played with a steel needle had abrasives added to the mix, and the abrasives helped grind the needle point quickly to fit the groove.
Shellac discs that were designed to be played with a sapphire ball stylus however, did not contain abrasives because the last thing you want is something grinding away at the sapphire.
Using your sapphire on a disc which contains abrasives will almost certainly cause some damage to the sapphire, even after only one or two plays.
Personally, I would examine the sapphire very closely, and replace it if any damage has occured.

[pughphonos]

Thanks, Gramophoneshane. I will inspect the sapphire.

If Emersons were meant to be played with needles, then what is all this business about their also being vertical-compliant (hence "universal)? Does this mean that the first Emerson machines used steel needles but that the orientation of the reproducer was set to receive a vertical signal?

All most confusing. Trying to play the "small company" verticals (that is, NOT Edison or Pathé) from the 1918-1920 period might not be worth the hassle.

[estott]

In my opinion the "Emerson Cut" was hogwash- probably 1% an attempt to evade patents, and 99% publicity. Victor Emerson was a clever man, but a bit of a sharper. He certainly gave Columbia a run for their money in the Client Label field.

[Wolfe]

If Emersons were meant to be played with needles, then what is all this business about their also being vertical-compliant (hence "universal)? Does this mean that the first Emerson machines used steel needles but that the orientation of the reproducer was set to receive a vertical signal?

Yes.

All most confusing. Trying to play the "small company" verticals (that is, NOT Edison or Pathé) from the 1918-1920 period might not be worth the hassle.

Unless they have some disclaimer on the label I think most of the non-Edison and Pathé vertical discs (like Okeh and Gennett and Brunswick) are to play with a steel needle. Rex records used a sapphire ball...