----- Original Message -----
From: "Chad Fernandez" <fernande_at_internet1.net>
To: <cctalk_at_classiccmp.org>
Sent: Wednesday, September 04, 2002 1:53 PM
Subject: Re: OT: dumpster dive and water/mold cleanup
> William Donzelli wrote:
> > You can not reuse needles, nor can you sharpen them. With the
> > acoustic-era machines, needles are used exactly *once*. Play the record,
> > then pitch the needle. If you reuse needles, you will wreck the records.
> >
> > Needles are very available from several sources. They are quite
> > inexpensive (they have to be!).
> >
> > William Donzelli
> > aw288_at_osfn.org
>
> Wow, that is something I didn't know. I have zero knowledge on acoustic
> era anything :-)
I did some googling when I brought home our wind-up Pathe Actuelle-- NOT a
victrola, which is a brand name. Think Coke vs. cola. The steel needles
that fit my machine, not a vertical cut [un?]fortunantly, come in `hard' and
`soft' versions-- and have a marked difference in sound. The hard needles
look like a piece of pencil lead, ~1/2" long, sharpened on a pencil
sharpener. The soft needles looked like the tips of slightly fattened
safety-pins and are possibly a hard brass or bronze, judging by the color.
A used needle is quite noticable, there are flats worn on the sides of it,
reflections will flash as you roll it in your fingers in a bright light.
>
> That would be a pain.
Not as much of a pain as ruining `Abide With Me'.
>
> Chad Fernandez
Bob
PS: See a similar Actuelle at
http://www.intertique.com/BgPatheArt.htm.
Mine doesn't have all the fancy spindles and inlays, but the speaker cone is
tres cool. It points out of the horn, and is actuated by a long lever
attached to the needle!
Received on Wed Sep 04 2002 - 19:03:00 BST