The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi!

Has anyone ever experimented with sharpened tooth sticks?

Regards,
António

Humm. I would think the wood used for common ones would be too soft.

Clay

The wooden ones are soft- they wouldn't hold up and wouldn't conduct the vibrations well, There are bamboo toothpicks but I think you'd get an attenuated sound at best.

Yes I tried that once. The round pointed one last a few turns and then dull. The flat sided ones, cut at an angle, will play about ¼ of a record, and dull. (I've never tried the plastic ones, but suspect that while they may hold up better, they probably would ruin the groove.)

Bamboo, as noted, was the standard material for fiber needles. Various types of thorns were also used. Toothpicks, no.

DS

it doesnt work, ive tried it, the weight of the soundbox flattens the point instantly and even if it didnt the reord definately would have
Alex

Has anyone ever tried using unused matches?

After 2 revolutions of the record it ignites and melts the grooves. Quiet sound and then nothing!

Steve wrote:Has anyone ever tried using unused matches?

After 2 revolutions of the record it ignites and melts the grooves. Quiet sound and then nothing!

reminds me of a video I saw a few years ago...Iron Record

Steve wrote:Has anyone ever tried using unused matches?

After 2 revolutions of the record it ignites and melts the grooves. Quiet sound and then nothing!

The result is the Pyrograph, ultra rare for obvious reasons. So that's why Edison experimented with concrete phonograph cabinets...

Andreas

Something to point out (pun intended) is that the fiber needles were doped with different formulations of wood hardening solutions - some of them toxic and therefore not practically useable today. Without the doping the fibers, in particular bamboo, will wear prematurely. A 1924 Gramophone magazine article mentions one of these formulas, which includes gum arabic, see below (copied from the Gramophone web site):

Place a dozen or So fibres in ordinary gum to soak for a few days, then put in small tin saucepan with half gum and half water, bring to gentle boil for a few minutes, take out and wipe clean each fibre, and lay in flat tin or porcelain plate, and leave to dry thoroughly for a day or so, slightly warm them in oven or in ti over gas, and they are ready for use.
As a test I have used a doped fibre needle on a friend's instrument, playing eleven sides of different records, some of which were heavy recordings, without deterioration of clear tone. I may mention that the dope being a " water mixture " is antithetic to the material of records, so any minute debris worn off into the grooves will not adhere, as would a elope of shellac spirit varnish (used by one eloper I came across).

I never tried this formula.

I use them, but only as a record cleaner.......gets the spinach and meat out from between the grooves.