I also play my Marconi's on a modern turntable... I'd never play any record I consider valuable for any reason on a wind-up phonograph. If normal play on a wnd-up caused any wear whatsoever to records (a constant concern according to every early record advertisement that included claims of "out-wearing any other record" and a physical certainty), then I refuse to cause any wear whatsoever to valuable records where avoidable. Lightweight pickups (I'm talking 3 grams max) with diamond stylii cause what I consider negligible damage if any, and I still try not to play the valued discs too often. I can't imagine how quickly the Marconi's must've shredded back in the days, even with the gold needles!
I definitely agree with Rick's assertions about the changing sonics of the Columbia's, something I'll bet many of us have noticed. My initial point regarding the sonics of the Marconi's (when played on a modern turntable and compared to standard 1907 Columbia pressings also played on a modern turntable) was that in spite of the Marconi's not working all that well on the machines of the period and ultimately failing as a commercial venture, the discs themselves weren't the problem as much as their incompatibility with the phonographs. I'd consider the Marconi's "audiophile pressings" of the standard Columbia issues, something Columbia carried on through the 80's with their "Half-Speed Mastered" LP series (which don't need gold needles and don't slip on the turntable). :-) Best, Robert ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, July 04, 2007 1:13 PM Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Marconi Velvet Tone discs > Hi All, > Well, I'm not Robert but I play my Marconi Records. I merely play them on > a > modern lightweight tone arm electric 78 rpm phonograph. The sound can be > simple > awsome! I have also played a few Columbias from the same era that seem to > blow away the Victors with depth and roundness on tone. > However, something changed in Columbia's recording equipment and by the > time > the Blue Label records came out the sound quality in the lower range seems > to > have greatly diminished. > My only assumption is that the strong notes in the lower register were > causing damage to the reproducers used in the Columbia. The mica would > finally > start to disintigrate from the extra strong vibration and caused that > squealing > sound at certain tones and if the reproducer was too stiff the damage to > the > grooves would soon become apparant. > Just my personal observations. > Sincerely. > Rick A. Jorgensen > > AMERICAN GRAMOPHONE & WIRELESS Co. > http://members.aol.com/AGW1886/index.html > GOLDEN ERA AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION > http://members.aol.com/AGW1888/geaahome.htm > > > > ************************************** > See what's free at http://www.aol.com. > _______________________________________________ > Phono-L mailing list > http://phono-l.oldcrank.org >
