[78-L] World constant velocity records--in action!

[RUSSELL BARNES]

Some thirty-five years ago - here in Dorset, UK - I casually visited a small somewhat insignificant auction sale-room looking for records.   To my surprise on a table were some twenty 'World' constant linear velocity records and two strange gadgets, which I later discovered were speed controllers.      I stayed and purchased the collection.
 
I made enquiries through the Auctioneers and gathered they came from a Cottage here in the Dorset Countryside.   It had been the home of a (Mr. ?) Pemberton-Billing.
 
Noel Pemberton-Billing was, I gather, the inventor of the system.    
 
The records I purchased ranged from Military Bands to Dance/Jazz style.   Among them was an original printed World catalogue listing.
 
Russ Barnes
Dorset, UK 
 
 
 
  From: Harold Aherne <leotolstoy_75 at yahoo.com>
To: 78-L at 78online.com 
Sent: Monday, 28 May 2012, 2:50
Subject: [78-L] World constant velocity records--in action!


These have been posted for about nine months but I only discovered them now--the first time I've ever seen the World mechanism itself.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_TW3ns1e1I
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKsuzbGE6RU
 
The idea behind it wasn't necessarily bad, but the technology wasn't quite all there yet for the system to be successful. For one thing, I'd be rather concerned about a steel needle running for 10 minutes on one record, and I'm not even certain whether a bamboo or cactus one could endure that length. And since the grooves are constantly exposed to the wheel on the controller, one would also think they might get buffed down after a certain number of plays (maybe even one!).
 
Were these manufactured by British Vocalion? Some of the dance bands who appeared on the Vocalion makes around 1922-24 also pop up on World.
 
-HA
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