Can You Play Vinylite on an old phonograph?

[igic]

I have a few Victors, Columbias. Just wondering if they would ruin a Vinylite record? Not buying it for the value of the record.

[Victrolacollector]

Yes, a machine with a steel needle should not be used to play a vinylite record. These machines run roughly 78 and not intended to play 16, 33 ⅓ or 45 rpm records.

The stylus point is too wide, too sharp and too heavy for the grooves. You will not only dig and cut into the vinyl, you will probably not be able to keep the turntable rotating.

A machine such as this should only play early (pre-1935) records. There are threads on here about this subject. The pre-1935 records which are fragile, have grooves to fit the needle and material in the surface of the record to wear and conform the needle to the groove within the first few rotations of the record.
A steel needle is really good for one play.

[marcapra]

I have many vinylite or vinyl records pressed in the late 40s and 50s that are 78 rpm. But are not meant to be played with a steel needle. They should be played with a lighter weight pickup with a sapphire or diamond stylus. In other words, you should play them on a 40s or 50s phonograph such as my 1942 V-225 Victrola with a crystal cartridge and a sapphire stylus.

[Wolfe]

A few of the sleeves for those later vinyl(ish) 78's will have such a disclaimer about using a lighter pickup.

This is one of those questions that pops up regularly around here. A search would reveal many more posts / debate on this subject.

[tinovanderzwan]

oh fuss fuss boys! let a guy do a experiment without everyone saying he shouln't
i'll tell you how to do it!
1 get a 45 record well past its prime not the extended play(microgroove) but a record with nice wide grooves
2 use bend needles bend speartip needles or fiber needles (thorns)
a multi spring victor machine if totaly in perfect working order can be tuned down to the speed of 45 (a edison dd can even go as far back as 33 rpm)
with a bend needle the record won't slip you can also push the angle of the reproducer foreward (if possible)
with some practice it does work without damaging the phono it wont even kill the record (too much)and it sounds surpricingly good especialy with a ortophonic reproducer

i played a complete lp from the carpenters on a long-play edison the lp was like somebody walked on it it had a shine like sandpaper and it wouln't play on the electric pick-up yet it played on the edison just fine maby not hi-fi but it wasn't too bad

so go out there and find yourself a worn 45 or 2 and go and experiment
have fun!