Semi-permanent sapphire needle for 78 rpm records

[keith1954]

Recently, a new phonograph has entered my small collection. I've been having a great time playing all of my acoustically recorded records, this means that steel needles are being consumed at a great rate.

In the Dear Dead Days, around 1970, one could go into the dime store, like Woolworth's, and purchase an Audition bent shank semi-permanent sapphire tipped needle. I recall the package saying they were good for acoustical reproduction, even though I never purchased one.

Took a look on eBay and the same things are available for between $10-$15 depending on the seller.

Has anyone used these in a Victor sound box? Say an Exhibition. Any thoughts on these? If you remove the semi-permanent stylus, to play a Pathe record, will it hurt the 78 to replace in the sound box as the exact alignment may have changed.

Would really like to hear from other members on this.

Thanks,
Keith

[lucius1958]

I think many collectors would agree that using one of these late jewel styli on an acoustic machine is not a good idea.

At least, I would be leery of the wear they would cause with a heavy reproducer. Better to use good steel needles or fiber….

BillS

[keith1954]

BillS, My thinking would be that these jewel styli are for late 78 electric record players. I was wondering what other members thought, thanks for your response. Or if someone out there knew of a good semi-permanent needle suitable for acoustic records. Or if such a thing even exists. I've seen many old packages of semi-permanent needles, but these may have been for early electric records.

I've had great luck with soft tone steel needles and also fibre needles.
Keith

[lucius1958]

Well, the Victor "Tungs-Tone" needles were certainly used on acoustic machines, and were advertised to last for dozens of plays each: you can still occasionally find unused packages. It has been recommended that you should only use them on very clean records, though - they may tend to aggravate wear that is already present.

Similar in concept was the "Everplay" needle, which had a coil of tungsten wire that could be reeled out every 20 plays or so, and had enough wire for hundreds of plays. I recollect that one of the TMF members had found a small cache of these in their original packages, and recently sold the last one. If you're lucky, you might run across one…

Unfortunately, I don't know of anyone making tungsten needles of any sort these days.

BillS

[phototone]

In the late 1930's on thru the 1950's, small table-top phonographs were made with crystal cartridges that took regular needles secured with a set screw. These pick-ups were much much lighter than earlier acoustical and magnetic pick-ups. These bent-shank jewel point styli were designed for these later crystal cartridges.