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I received some "Recoton" needles with a machine I bought. They are tapered down to a slender tip and the package says they are good for about twelve sides each. They sound pretty good. Does anyone know anything about these needles?

There have been past discussions about this and similar long-life needles. Here's one such thread:

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... it=recoton

52089 wrote:There have been past discussions about this and similar long-life needles. Here's one such thread:

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... it=recoton

Problem is... that thread is a lot about changers and really nothing about these needles.

I searched for info on these and there's not much out there.

Whether anecdotal or not, my understanding is the Recoton needles marketed in the States were made by Laubscher in Switzerland. I grab Laubscher needles any time I can find them; they are truly, to me, the Rolls of needles. No matter what the blurb says about the number of plays, the usual proviso applies here of using the point once only, then discard. I have also heard (or read somewhere) that some Decca needles were also manufactured by Laubscher.

Seems like Recoton Corp. was founded in 1936 -- http://audiotools.com/en_dead_recoton.html-- well after electrically amplified systems had taken over in the US--except for portable models. I'd suspect you could safely get 12 sides from a lighter weight electric pickup of the period, but wouldn't advise more than a couple of sides from an older all-acoustic model.

OrthoFan

As a P.S., I did find this blurb from a 1985 issue of the Antique Phonograph Monthly:

"Laubscher (Swiss)
phonograph needles, filter-
tip, good for 10-12 plays ea.
Originally sold in this coun-
try under the Recoton label."

I also like this brand and use them.

I recently purchased a 1917 Victor Victrola XI that came with 3 Types of Needles.
1. Steel Needle (Single record side use).
2. Tungs-tone Stylus (60 record side use).
3. Recoton Phoneedle (12 record side use).

The ones that seem to work the best are Recoton Phoneedles.
The Recoton Phoneedles were made about 1936 by Laubscher in Switzerland.

attachment=0]Recoton Phoneedles (1930).jpg[/attachment]

My Two Questions, which I cannot find the answers to are:
1. What Material are these Recoton Phoneedles made of ?
2. Should I use these Recoton Phoneedles on my 1917 Victor Victrola XI Records ?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.