Hello friends, I was searching through a killer record shop in Austin today ( a treat for me, as I'm not from there). I picked up an old British 33 of Indian classical music. It is an LP, and it says it's a "microgroove flexible record," but it certainly ain't flexible, that's for sure. It looks and feels just like a shellac 78, which worries me when it comes to playing it with my AT440 needle. I don't want to ruin my needle... am I better off with a 78 needle on this record, or at least something with a heavier tracking weight than 1.4g? I've been searching around for some more info on this, as I'm sure there were a lot of early 33's like this, but haven't had any luck. Anyone have any advice? Thanks!!
I would be careful about the AT440 shank on anything but a vinyl microgroove record. If unsure, consider an inexpensive conical 'DJ' stylus, if it worries you. As for using a 78 needle, you have to determine if the record is microgroove or non-microgroove. There aren't many vinyl 33's like that, but occasionally you can find some that are like hard bakelite, or even shellac (one that I can count, and noisy too.)
While there were shellac LPs, you're very unlikely to find one. They were made by Columbia as experimental discs just after the war. You've more likely found a heavy, different composition vinyl disc. They're heavy, stiff, and will break (as will any vinyl LP, save maybe Dynaflex but they too..) but they're not shellac. They play fine with any stylus, really. Just quite noisy. Examples include those on the 'Crown' label. People joke they're made out of recycled poker chips.
What's funny is that the cover does say "flexible" on it in reference to the record. It feels *slightly* more flexible than a 78, but it's about as thick (maybe thicker) and very heavy... looking a bit more at the grooves, they do look more like modern LPs than 78s. Still, I'm leery, of course, and will probably put it to the side until I can put on an old needle I don't care about to try it out. Thanks a lot! Anyone else come across these kind of LPs?
I think you posted this before I finished my last post. This makes a lot of sense and sounds correct. I'm still leery about playing it with my good needle, but I'll think about doing so after a couple thorough cleanings. For the record (pun?), the label is British, Ducretet-Thomson. No year on it, but I would figure it's some time in the 50s -- kinda funny, it says "Recorded under the Auspices of UNESCO" on the front.
I've seen LPs that feel almost like bakelite plastic. Brittle and stuff, but certainly plastic. dan c
Ducretet-Thomson were actually a French label. At one point their catalogue was distributed in the UK via Decca, so Decca may have pressed some records on that label in the UK. Decca's early UK LPs were definitely pressed on rigid vinyl.
I doubt it. Many early vinyl LP's are of very hard/thick construction, but definitely not shellac. I don't think you can press microgroove shellac anyway, it's far too gritty. The record I referred to in post # 3 was 10" 33 1/3 rpm record, almost certainly shellac, and non-microgroove.
NBC Radio Transcriptions Discs were made of Shellac..they Read "33 1/3 RPM" ..Toscanin's "Messa Solennis" was on these,How do I Know? I'd had one of 'em,complete with the News Bumper of then!
Shellac composition varied widely as we all know. And the surfaces (and by extension the sound) of my record have me thinking it is shellac. It feels like a shellac disc and even 'rings' like one when gently tapped.
Hah, well now I'm thoroughly confused. I'm really thinking the disc I have is actually made of vinyl, since it bends very slightly, unlike my shellac 78s, which I wouldn't even try to do so with. Still, if it were indeed a micro-groove shellac 33, which matters more for caring for modern needles: the material or the groove size? I'm imagining it's the grooves, but I'm no expert on anything.... And thanks much for the interesting discussion -- I love finding older, more unique stuff like this, the kind of discs that tend to get thrown in w/ the pile of old 78s and 45s under the racks at record stores.
Don't Sit On My Jimmy Shands Written by Richard Thompson When the party hit full swing I saw you come reeling in You had that six-pack in a stranglehold Now you stagger, now you sway Why don't you fall the other way 'Cause I've got something here worth more than gold I said "Don't sit on my Jimmy Shands Don't sit on my Jimmy Shands They don't mend with sticky tape and glue Don't sit on my Jimmy Shands Don't sit on my Jimmy Shands And that's my very best advice to you" Call me precious, I don't mind 78s are hard to find You just can't get the shellac since the war This one's the Beltona brand Finest label in the land They don't make them like that anymore I said "Don't sit on my Jimmy Shands Don't sit on my Jimmy Shands Unless you want to wind up black and blue Don't sit on my Jimmy Shands Don't sit on my Jimmy Shands And that's my very best advice to you" Darling though you're twice my size I don't mean to patronize Honey let me lead you by the hand Find a lap or find a chair You can park it anywhere Just don't rest your cheeks against my man I said "Don't sit on my Jimmy Shands Don't sit on my Jimmy Shands They don't mend with sticky tape and glue Don't sit on my Jimmy Shands Don't sit on my Jimmy Shands And that's my very best advice to you" No shindig is half complete Without that famous polka beat That's why they invite me, I suppose Waltzes, strathspeys, eights, some reels Now you know how good it feels Crank that handle babe, away she goes I said "Don't sit on my Jimmy Shands Don't sit on my Jimmy Shands Unless you want to wind up black and blue" I said "Don't sit on my Jimmy Shands Don't sit on my Jimmy Shands That's my very best advice to you"
