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Has anyone every seen a Bell Hood phonograph needle? I found a needle tin recently but it does not have any of the needles in it.

Sure, another needle gimmick. These were sold in the US.

gramophone78 wrote:Sure, another needle gimmick. These were sold in the US.

Bell Hood Needle.jpg

What on earth was that supposed to do?

Nat wrote:

gramophone78 wrote:Sure, another needle gimmick. These were sold in the US.

Bell Hood Needle.jpg

What on earth was that supposed to do?

Well, like most gimmicks....not a whole lot..... .

Nat wrote:

gramophone78 wrote:Sure, another needle gimmick. These were sold in the US.

Bell Hood Needle.jpg

What on earth was that supposed to do?

Maybe an attempt to reduce needle talk?

They were developed, because many people despised the look of an exposed needle...

Curt A wrote:They were developed, because many people despised the look of an exposed needle...

Cover that vulgar bohemian protrusion!

Orchorsol wrote: Maybe an attempt to reduce needle talk?

That's what I thought the idea was.
It seems to have been sold as a way to gather every bit of lost sound and send it through the horn!
This reviewer called it in 1912 at its debut.
http://mtr.arcade-museum.com/MTR-1912-55-1/28/ Their advertising doesn't sell it as a shield, more a miracle!
from "Talking Machine World (Aug-Dec 1919)"

Is the Fastest Selling Phonograph Needle Because —
The hood resonator clarifies the vibrations, resulting in best tonal
effects. This is the one needle that makes the phonograph human.
Everything bell-shape causes the best vibrating forces. Vibrations,
when reproduced by Bell Hood Needles, travel through the bell
sounding board.
Advantages of the Bell Hood Needle The Sounding Plays 50 to 100
Records— Eliminates Scratching— Purifies and Humanizes the Tone.

The tone of their advertising changed in 1921.
from "Talking Machine World (Jan -Mar 1921)"

IMPROVES YOUR PHONOGRAPH 1OO PER CENT "The Bell Does It"
Purifies the tone, reduces the scratching and mechanical sounds to a minimum.

James

I scanned the 1920 advertising material found with these needles but never tried them yet!
Happy new year to all the forum members!
Jeff

To add just a bit to what's already here. It appears from a few tins of them I've got (round tins, all of them) you could get two tones, I assume soft and loud judging by the taper and nothing else. Later on, they made the type that James shows and Jeff posted the flyer for, which seems to have been made to compete with Victor's Tungstone stylus using a tungsten type wire point rather than a one play steel needle. I've never tried any of mine, so I can't comment on how they sound.

Sean