[78-L] Frequency Response/Range for 78's

[Doug Pomeroy]

Milan,

You are right.

My understanding is that WE and Bell Labs created a special cutter for
recording vertically cut 16" transcription discs with an extended high 
frequency response.  I don't know the particulars, but many collectors
have commented on the remarkable sound of these discs.

Engineers John Pierce and Ted Hunt (whose names should be remembered
forever and especially every time Peter Goldmark's name is mentioned),
developed a light weight cartridge (aprox. 2 grams) which reproduced the 
range from 30 Hz to 18 kHz!  They reported their results in November of
1937 at the Acoustical Society meeting in Ann Arbor. Their paper was 
published in early 1938 and they continued improvements until 1940.
These developments were essential to the later success of the LP.

They also demonstrated that listeners could hear the difference when a 
filter was inserted at 11 kHz, contradicting the "experts" who assumed 
that people didn't want high frequency response! 

Pierce was also responsible for the studies which demonstrated the superiority
of lateral over vertical recording geometry.

Giants walked the Earth!

Doug

> Message: 14
> Date: Sun, 29 Jul 2012 18:48:40 +0200
> From: "Milan P Milovanovic" <milanpmilovanovic4 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [78-L] Frequency Response/Range for 78's
> To: <78-l at klickitat.78online.com>
> Message-ID: <85D22B6D26D14142BD5A8A726F44B383 at arhisounb4951e>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
> 	reply-type=original
> 
> It is interesting that on some professionally recorded 16" lacquer discs 
> frequency range is extended up to 15 kHz or even more, and these are from 
> 1946.
> 
> I own one of these gems. Mine is filled with tunes (two takes of the same 
> tune, in fact) for Chesterfield show recorded in that year in Hollywood.
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Doug Pomeroy" <audiofixer at verizon.net>
> To: <78-l at klickitat.78online.com>
> Sent: Saturday, July 28, 2012 5:17 PM
> Subject: Re: [78-L] Frequency Response/Range for 78's

<SNIP>


Doug Pomeroy
Audio Restoration & Mastering Services
Transfers of metal parts, lacquers,
shellac and vinyl discs & tapes.
193 Baltic St
Brooklyn, NY 11201-6173
(718) 855-2650
audiofixer at verizon.net