Speed of Victor records/phonographs

[jdavis]

Have never read anything about this, but I recently got a Victor machine with a motor from 1910. The predominate markings on the speed indicator are 76 & 80. The marks that indicate increments seem to be 1 rpm each. I set '78' with a strobe disc. Many of my early Victor discs (Besanzoni, Murray, etc., in general) seem to be on pitch at 76. I realize speeds varied a lot, but was there a time when '76' was standard?

Thanks for any info.

Davis

[estott]

I believe that they were indeed recorded at 76, but playing them at 78, while it altered the pitch, increased the brilliance a bit and made the early machines sound better.