The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Preferably new, cured and ready for sharpening and play.

Here's some on ebay for a good price. They definitely are not new and may or may not be cured, but here they are.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Victor-Fibre-Ph ... SwjDZYho12

RolandVV-360 wrote:Here's some on ebay for a good price. They definitely are not new and may or may not be cured, but here they are.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Victor-Fibre-Ph ... SwjDZYho12

Those are Fibre/Fiber needles which are usually bamboo. The OP is looking for cactus.

There are cactus needles on eBay. One popular brand is called "Kacti".

This is a fairly frequently found brand: https://www.facebook.com/events/1040512906060770/

This is another needle from the same maker- they are longer and thinner, most probably intended for electric pickups: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Greythorne-Phon ... 3132420%26

Duotone cactus needles also turn up, these are good quality, the auction might be a bit pricy: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Greythorne-Phon ... 3132420%26

Thanks to everyone for their input. I'm beginning to wonder if new cactus needles are in short supply. I would take up the challenge of producing them myself but global warming hasn't gotten quite so bad in Canada. There are no cacti in my backyard.

Time to invest in a greenhouse?

Torjazzer wrote:Thanks to everyone for their input. I'm beginning to wonder if new cactus needles are in short supply. I would take up the challenge of producing them myself but global warming hasn't gotten quite so bad in Canada. There are no cacti in my backyard.

The problem is, the best needles were made from the spines of the Giant Saguaro, and they are strictly protected. You can't get them. Other cacti tend to have thin spines

HI,
Being from southern Ontario in Canada, I use the Hawthorn tree needles. If you want some, I would be more than happy to mail you a couple.
They are incredibly sharp and about 1 ½ in to 2 in. long. I have used them but they make a soft tone steel needle seem loud.
Blain