The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Before getting this machine I thought a needle, was a needle, was a needle when it came to phonographs. Now, after Googling, I'm terribly confused.

Where are good sources for good needles for these old machines? Mine is a Starck 'Classique' of unknown, but thought to be vintage of about early 1920's.

Silver1Wun wrote:Before getting this machine I thought a needle, was a needle, was a needle when it came to phonographs. Now, after Googling, I'm terribly confused.

Where are good sources for good needles for these old machines? Mine is a Starck 'Classique' of unknown, but thought to be vintage of about early 1920's.

I would try Ebay. Also try our forum "search" and you will find many, many threads on needles....who sells and recommendation's by other members.

Hope this helps.

You can get them off eBay/Amazon and most major antique phonograph suppliers sell them, you might even have someone local with a reginal antique phonograph society.

A lot of people in the hobby get them from suppliers off eBay, either mrtapes or cyber_tigger. If you want to preserve your records you're intended to change the needle after every play, because after only a second/third play the needle really starts into the record. If you're confused by soft/medium/loud that only indicates the loudens produced by the needle. Soft is best for indoors and causes less record wear, medium is okay but most only use load outside on portable machines.

Starck Classique was made by the Starck piano company of Chicago, Illinois, they used an interesting tonearm design similar to Cheney/Mandel to get around the victor patent on the tapered tonearm.(https://antiquepianoshop.com/online-museum/starck/)