Question about aluminum discs playback

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Wally Swift
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Joined: Thu Apr 09, 2015 12:44 am

Question about aluminum discs playback

Postby Wally Swift » Thu Apr 09, 2015 1:01 am

Greetings everyone this is my first post.

I have a set of "NBC Instantaneous Recordings" from the 1930's that I want to transfer. They are made of aluminum and they are not coated with shellac. From what I can ascertain online it was recommended that these be played with a cactus or bamboo stylus because the heavy needles and tonearms of the day caused groove damage. But what about playing them with a 3mil sapphire or diamond stylus as typically used for normal 78rpm playback and a medium mass tonearm? I have read that the aluminum discs are very soft but are they really more fragile than shellac or vinyl?

I have two options for playing 78s. I have an Audiotronics suitcase type record player and I also have a modified Technics SL1200MKII although I've yet to purchase a 78rpm stylus for it.

Any advice about playing these would be greatly appreciated!

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