The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

(J.M.J.)

Long hairline crack, does not affect play, tic, this 1949 song is the same song that a young Elvis Presley listened to, and recorded a cover version in 1954 on Sun Records.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ0GDdh6CD8

It's a real shame to play that 40's, vintage record in that 20's Victrola. You can actually see the damage that steel needle is doing as you watch the video. I am not a purist and do some things that aren't "preservationist" by any stretch but when I see a steel needle carve a nice recording like that I just cringe.

Please don't misunderstand, I don't mean to bash you or be sarcastic. I'm hoping you will reconsider what you play records on, especially ones you clearly appreciate.

(J.M.J.)
I had considered all that before I played that recording on the accoustic machine, as I have studied that "phenom" for years. Here is what I did: That record has a long Hairline Crack the entire suface, if it was not my duplicate copy, and without the crack, I would have never played it on that machine, as I have an electric Califone that plays the "newer" 78s nicely. The crack did not affect the play, so I used that record and one other "cracked" as a kind of "demo" of what the machine is capable of. Also, I used an ultra-thin needle that Ron Haring sells, so the "crack" was less noticable, and the wear, if any, but wera is not a factor on an already ruined record. It was only played once on that machine by me, so any wear was a "moot" point, as I found out when I re-played it again on my electric Califone, no sound change from previous plays on the Califone was detected.

I'm forever getting comments on youtube about playing later discs on the 202. Some of them I only play the once, to record for youtube, then they never see a steel needle again, or others are already quite worn, or damaged in some other way, and then others are Aussie pressings which are fine to play on an acoustic machine & no different from playing an early 30s disc.
Personally I dont worry to much about it anyway, particularly if I have several copies, and lets face it, most of these 40s/50's discs were pressed by the truck load. Although they might have some monetary value & be considered "collectible", most are by no means rare items that will be lost to history if you wear it out completely. I've paid well over $100 for a few 1950s 78s, and the first thing I do when it arrives is play it on the Re-entrant. I enjoy how they sound on the 202, so that's how I listen to them, regardless of what it cost me, or what they may be worth to someone else.

Thanks for the explanation J.M.J. You did mention the crack in your initial post, I guess I forgot that after watching the video.

As I stated, I'm not such a purist that I don't play records with a steel needle, (usually on an Orthophonic of some sort). But, I stop play immediately if I notice the needle obviously beginning to cut.

Anyway, after all this, I did enjoy hearing the recording and I'm glad that a nice record wasn't damaged in doing it. Thanks!