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Those 'Top Hat' IM Thorn Needles ....
Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2023 7:36 am
by poodling around
I notice that they state that they 'suit autograms'.
I wonder what 'autograms' actually are ?
Does any-one know by any chance ?
(Image below taken from ebay listing:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/305159413505 ... R4CHwcHZYg
Re: Those 'Top Hat' IM Thorn Needles ....
Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2023 11:26 am
by Zkeener323
Meaning record changers. Fiber needles can often be used multiple time before needing to be resharpened.
Re: Those 'Top Hat' IM Thorn Needles ....
Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2023 4:54 pm
by Orchorsol
IMs are much the same as BCNs except most are thinner, and sometimes the shanks were coated, I believe with a wash of shellac.
It's supposition, but I believe the same "cottage industry" workshop was making both BCNs and IMs at the end of production. Ken Erwood was involved at the time the IM needle making workshop closed, and he took over all the stock and machinery, which I now have and use (all except for the stock of newly finished thorn needles that may have existed at the time).
BCN offered thorn needles in a variety of types including for electrical pickups and autochangers. I have many examples and have never found any real functional difference between the types!
Re: Those 'Top Hat' IM Thorn Needles ....
Posted: Tue Sep 26, 2023 10:12 am
by poodling around
Zkeener323 wrote: Mon Sep 25, 2023 11:26 am
Meaning record changers. Fiber needles can often be used multiple time before needing to be resharpened.
Thanks Zkeener !
I am unsure as to what 'Record Changers' are to be honest but guess they are like Juke Boxes or machines which can play more than one record at a time ?
Probably electric then ?
Re: Those 'Top Hat' IM Thorn Needles ....
Posted: Tue Sep 26, 2023 10:13 am
by poodling around
Orchorsol wrote: Mon Sep 25, 2023 4:54 pm
IMs are much the same as BCNs except most are thinner, and sometimes the shanks were coated, I believe with a wash of shellac.
It's supposition, but I believe the same "cottage industry" workshop was making both BCNs and IMs at the end of production. Ken Erwood was involved at the time the IM needle making workshop closed, and he took over all the stock and machinery, which I now have and use (all except for the stock of newly finished thorn needles that may have existed at the time).
BCN offered thorn needles in a variety of types including for electrical pickups and autochangers. I have many examples and have never found any real functional difference between the types!
Very interesting ! Thanks Orchorsol.
Re: Those 'Top Hat' IM Thorn Needles ....
Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2023 10:59 am
by tim w
May I suggest that autograms are referring to home recordings or vending machine recordings that have a softer surface neccessitating thorn use.
Re: Those 'Top Hat' IM Thorn Needles ....
Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2023 5:14 am
by poodling around
tim w wrote: Sat Sep 30, 2023 10:59 am
May I suggest that autograms are referring to home recordings or vending machine recordings that have a softer surface neccessitating thorn use.
Very interesting.
I can see that this might have been the case. They would probably work very well with these kind of recordings. Steel needles were 'prohibited' so perhaps you are correct.