The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Does anyone have any experience with these semi-permanent needles? I have 5 unopened packages, so 25 needles. I don’t know if I should use them or keep them unopened. They are designed to wear straight back, more or less like the Victor Tungs-Tone needles. I don’t want to damage my records or use something that I should leave as NOS. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Why not open one of the packets and try them out? If there are different tones (loudnesses) start with soft or medium, use a good condition record - and assuming the soundbox has been rebuilt well, you should have a nice experience.

It’s doubtful that age would somehow make them dangerous to use, except if there is corrosion on the tips.

I don't use original unopened or even opened things that survived for over 100 years but rather display them with a phonograph---like showing them off with the same brand machine that they were made for. Those Sonora needles would be displayed in a Sonora phonograph along with any Sonora literature and records.

emerson wrote:I don't use original unopened or even opened things that survived for over 100 years but rather display them with a phonograph---like showing them off with the same brand machine that they were made for. Those Sonora needles would be displayed in a Sonora phonograph along with any Sonora literature and records.

That is where they have been for quite a while. I don’t even remember where or when I got them. They sit in the drawer of my Sonora, so they are not really displayed. It is a dilemma. I have no idea of their value and if they function as advertised, I would get to use them rather than forgetting them in a draw. The other side of the coin is that I would hate to use up something that should be preserved.

I'm a needle tin collector, so I hate it when I get a tin that has been emptied by a seller, especially if they are unusual needles. That being said, open one and keep the others intact. Modern needles seem to work well, so why not use them? I don't use NOS antique needles because you can never get them again, but they are yours and you can do what you want with them. Whoever gets them after you're gone may not care at all and throw them away...

I'll bet these are very similar to the Victor Chromium needles

I have used original antique needles before. They sounded the same as regular needles. Considering that yours have been around for 100 years and really show in the details just how opulent Sonora accessories were (to match the phonographs) I'd go buy fresh needles from your favorite vendor and save the rare packages for posterity.

Add me to the "save them" group. We do not live in Cuba and have to use old things over and over again. I would love to have one of those packs sitting on my display shelf. I would never even dream of opening one up, but as Curt said they are yours and not ours.

I remember reading about a crate containing a brand new BSA Gold Star at a motorcycle auction that took place about 25 years ago. The owner of the shop never opened it and many years later it was listed as being the last, new and most original Gold Star in existence. The condition and even the specs were unknown. It was only extremely valuable if it was never opened, meaning that nobody would ever enjoy the motorcycle as it was intended, and to a motorcyclist, that is a sin.

NOS needles are not in that category, but the question is the same, do you open it up and enjoy it or leave it unopened. It could be argued that there are other Gold Stars to be ridden and admired, but only one original, in the crate Gold Star, (but what good is a motorcycle in a crate). At the same time it could be argued that it is a shame not to enjoy it as intended. There is also the concern that the bike in the crate could require preserving and would continue to decay if left in the crate. If I had bought that crated BSA, I think that I would have had to remove it from the crate and get it into riding condition, and display it with the crate. As for the needles, I think that I will open 1 package and try 1 needle just to satisfy my curiosity. The others will remain as NOS and I will keep the open package with the others to satisfy the next persons curiosity.

It is probably for the best that I don't find a crated Victrola, because I could not resist uncrating it.

I think what you plan to do is what I would do. I use antique needles, but not rare ones, just those that are readily available common ones. I do feel that the quality of the Victor needles I use is better than any modern ones I have tried. The dimensions and shape are different and they seem by and large to be made to a greater precision.

I might try rarer needles - just like these in question, but only from curiosity, and not to just use them