[78-L] "New media" for Victrolas?...

[David Lennick]

What size stylus tip is best for playing chocolate records?

dl

Ron L'Herault wrote:
> If you really have a special record that you like to play a lot, there is a
> way to create new ones.  Start with a good copy of the disk, the best you
> can find.    You then purchase flexible (usually two-part liquid) impression
> material and make a mold of the record.  You've created a kind of "stamper".
> You then use a hard epoxy (usually two-part liquid) which you pour into the
> mold and let cure.  Carefully peel off the mold and you will have a playable
> copy along with a mold to make more.  All it takes is time and money, the
> two ingredients necessary to solve almost all problems.  Smooth-on is one
> company that makes such products.   www.smooth-on.com  I have not used their
> products but have seen them used for antique furniture repair (recreating
> moldings for example).  They have a wide range of materials.  
> 
> I know the technique works because I have used dental impression material to
> create chocolate Little Wonder records that play on modern equipment and
> sound just as good as the original.  They taste a lot better.
> 
> Ron L
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: 78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com
> [mailto:78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com] On Behalf Of Michael Biel
> Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 2009 3:12 AM
> To: 78-L Mail List
> Subject: Re: [78-L] "New media" for Victrolas?...
> 
> 
> You don't need a newly manufactured record, but records in very good
> condition.  As David Lennick indicated, they would probably be be
> pressed in vinyl which would be utterly destroyed with the first
> playing.  If you just want some old records to play on the machine, they
> shouldn't be really hard to find.  I'm going to the Mechanical Music
> show in Wayne NJ this Sunday and there will be plenty of them there, and
> certainly some of the West Coasters here could guide you to places you
> might find some.  But remember, you MUST use a new needle EVERY TIME, or
> else your records will wear out very fast.  Most of us do not play our
> records on old players unless the records are common, duplicates, or
> otherwise relatively disposable.  Playing records on old players is
> playing the machine, not playing the record.  You do it to hear the
> machine.  If you want to hear the recording, you play it on modern
> equipment.  
> 
> NEVER use old needles you found in the machine because they were all
> probably used -- unless they came in a needle tin that seems to have all
> unused needles.  There are dealers who sell new needles.  If you slowly
> twirl the needle in your fingers and see light glinting off the point as
> you turn it, that is light reflecting off of the flattened edges of the
> worn needle, and these flat edges will tear the records up.  Also,
> unless you are using a late-20s Orthophonic or some other machine
> designed for playing electrical records, you should only play acoustical
> records on an acoustical machine.  Electrical records will usually be
> too loud, too bassy, and too shrill, and will wear out faster and
> sometimes start your reproducer buzzing.  You certainly don't want to
> play anything from the 40s or 50s.
> 
> Mike Biel  mbiel at mbiel.com   
> 
> 
> 
> David Lennick <dlennick at sympatico.ca>wrote:
>> They'd have to be pressed on shellac or something equally
>> hard ..ever see what happens to a vinyl disc when you lower
>> a soundbox with a steel needle into it?   dl
> 
>> Bruce England wrote:
>>> Hello:
>>> I just checked out your 78rpmrecord.com web site, and it's
>>> very good; interesting and useful!
>>> What I'm trying to figure out at the moment is if *anybody*
>>> is pressing new 78's playable on acoustic Victrolas. All of
>>> the records I have at this point are pretty well worn, and
>>> it would be way cool to be able to hear fresh grooves for
>>> a change. Do you have any idea(s)?  Thanks and bye for now!
>>> Bruce England    Mountain View, CA
>