[78-L] changing steel needle to sapphire

[Steven C. Barr]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Mc Cormick" <tooelemountains at comcast.net>
> I'm thinking a little bit about bidding on a little1948 Garod 78rpm
> record player/AM radio on Ebay.
> <javascript:;>
> Restored Garod Radio/Phonograph Americana
> <http://cgi.ebay.com/Restored-Garod-Radio-Phonograph-Americana_W0QQitemZ150349136649QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item230181c309&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1205%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50>
>
> The seller has modified the tonearm to use sapphire needles instead of
> steel.
> My question is whether this type of modification was done fairly often
> by owners of such players back 1940s?
> Or was such modifications extremely rare way back then?
>
AFAIK, sapphire-tipped needles were made to directly replace
the earlier-standard steel needles...the sapphire needle shanks
fit into the same set-screw "hole" as did the swteel needles! I
have NO idea what "modifications" were/are involved!

One word of warning; a sapphire-tipped needle will last about
a month of SERIOUS 78 playing! Better to look for a diamond-
tipped needle...!!

...stevenc