ted@usceast.UUCP (Ted Nolan) (09/29/84)
> > Patrick Wyant > AT&T Bell Laboratories (Naperville, IL) > *!iham1!gjphw > > This is a comment about the origin of the 45 rpm record speed. All other > speeds have probably been dictated by some other market or engineering detail. > > The first recordings and use of flat records (rather than drums) came from a > series of experiments performed by Bell Laboratories in the 1930's. This is incorrect, I know (though not by personal experience!) that wind up Victrolas were popular in the 20's using flat records, and I think I have seen them in old silent movies from the WWI era. I think Edison flat records may predate even this period, although they used a different technology and can't be played back today (the information was up and down on the bottom of the groves rather than side to side on the walls) The one I have is a real monster at least 1/3 inches thick! > I suspect that most of the other speeds exist due to technological > limitations at the time. The faster 78 rpm records were probably used because > the original mastering and cutting techniques did not yield good results at a > slower speed. I don't know why specifically 78 rpms was selected. Perhaps > it was related to the availability of electric drive motors which were > inexpensive at that time. > I suspect this is also incorrect, as most players didn't use electric motors. (And surely master machines could be geared to any desired speed). > Anyone else have specific knowledge about the reasons for 78, 33 1/3, etc? > Ok, here goes my chance to draw fire : 78 no idea 33 1/3 I can't imagine this number being chosen for anything other than aesthetic reasons (ie 100/3). I imagine that they (who?) made tests, came up with a range of speeds that would sound ok and be practical and picked a nice number from it. 45 To be a hi fi format incompatible with 33 1/3 and make people buy more equipment. (It didn't work though. There were some 45 only turntables made (I have one in my closet) but ingenuity quickly solved the incompatibility problem). 16 2/3 To be half of 33 1/3 ;perhaps this was kind to player gear ratios when a slower speed was needed for long low fi material. (Also this was the speed of the old 16" radio transcriptions) While we are talking about obsolete technologies , how about this one : Back in the 40's when my father was getting his Phd at Priceton, he saw a speech therapist to try and get rid of his Southern accent . (Apparently back in those dark ages it was felt that that would be a handicap to an English professor -- thank heavens it didn't work ) The therapist made a recording of my father speaking (which we still have) which played back at 78 rpm - with the needle starting in the CENTER and working its way towards the rim. Also, during the war, Pepsi would make little "cardboard" 78's for soldiers to mail home (these held up rather poorly though - not unexpectedly) -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ted Nolan ...decvax!mcnc!ncsu!ncrcae!usceast!ted 6536 Brookside Circle ...akgua!usceast!ted Columbia, SC 29206 ("We pray for one last landing on the globe that gave us birth..") -------------------------------------------------------------------------------