[78-L] (no subject)

[Steven C. Barr]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Howard Friedman" <hsf318 at comcast.net>
> To Malcolm and others,
> You're quite right, turntable speed is controlled and regulated according 
> to gearing.  In the US using 60 cycle current, the turntable speed is 60 
> squared, or 3600, divided by a number usually between 60 and 40, i.e., 
> between 60 and 90 rpm.  For 78.26 rpm, the gearing is 3600/46.  In Europe 
> where the current is 50 cycles, the gearing would be between, say, 50 
> squared or 2500/50 to 2500/25, or from 50 to 100 rpm.  In the old days 
> when recording machines were operated on batteries, or even electric 
> motors that were operated on highly variable electricity, it was extremely 
> difficult to control the recording speed.  It usually varied from day to 
> day, even from session to session on the same day.  In the US the Victor 
> Talking Machine Company was more likly to set its recording speed at 
> something between 3600/50, or 72rpm, and 3600/45, or 80rpm.  In Europe, 
> the most common recording speed was most likely between 2500/35, or 71.29 
> rpm, as in the first Caruso recording session in Apr
> il 1902, and 2500/37, or 67.92 rpm, as in his second and third sessions in 
> November and December 1902.
> In the US Caruso's recording sessions from 1904 to 1920 were made at 
> speeds as low as 75 and as high as 80.  The former might provide the 
> singer with an additional few seconds for a selection!
>
Are you referring to the speed of the RECORDING turntable? If so, weren't 
these weight-driven
for as long as they cut wax masters?

As far as playback tt's, they were friction-driven by idler wheels until 
well past the "78 era"...?!

...stevenc