tugs (05/20/83)
The reason 45 spindles are bigger than 33 spindles is the same reason that Betamax doesn't fit VHS, and the same reason SQ, QS and CD-4 quad systems were incompatable. Namely, $$$$$$$$$. Columbia introduced the 33 1/3 RPM microgroove record in the early 50s, and almost simultaneously RCA released its own microgroove format, the 45. Fortunately for the buying public, it was a simple matter for phonograph manufacturers to produce machines which could play both formats (as well as the 16 RPM format which hung around for a while); the 78 format was included also. Fortunately, no such problem occurred when cassettes (NOT cartridges) were introduced, and no such problem should occur with digital discs, for the same reason: the Philips corporation wisely decided to develop a format and then allow any and all manufacturers to use that format for free, provided they stick to it exactly. So the next time you want to swap videotapes with a friend and discover to your grief that you can't play his tapes, don't forget to bemoan the fact that Philips didn't get there first... steve hull decvax!utzoo!utcsrgv!tugs