Needles: Specify if you want soft, medium or loud tone. Try a pack of each and decide which you prefer.
When ordering more than one pack of needles you cam mix between the three styles we carry.
Please specify what types you would like.
When ordering more than one pack of needles you cam mix between the three styles we carry.
Please specify what types you would like.
We offer the finest quality of 78 RPM steel needles for your listening pleasure.
Needle Prices - Packages of 100
Number of Packages |
Total Price |
Price Per Package |
1 |
$6.85 |
$6.85 |
5 |
$32.00 |
$6.40 |
10 |
$55.00 |
$5.50 |
20 |
$100.00 |
$5.00 |
50 |
$225.00 |
$4.50 |
100 |
$420.00 |
$4.20 |
Larger quantity discounts are available. Please contact us for more information.
Steel needles should only be used for 1 to 2 plays and then discarded. They should never to be used for 3 or more plays. If you have needles that are scattered about the phonograph, it’s best not to use them because they may severely damage your records very quickly. The first time the needle was used, the tip was ground down to the shape of the record groove. By putting the needle back into the reproducer, you’re creating a lathe because the needle will cut right into the sides of groove of the record. Your best bet would be to call us up and order more needles. We ship out the next day.
The technology of the time was that the tip of the steel needles would wear quickly to the shape of the groove in the record. Ground greenstone was added to the mixture of shellac and carbon black when the records were pressed in molds to be made. The greenstone acted like a pumice to come in contact with the needle and grind it to shape quickly. After two full plays of the record, the needle becomes worn down and that is when record damage starts.
The needles come in three types: soft tone, medium tone, and loud tone. For better listening pleasure, the loud tone needles work best with the earlier records made prior to 1920. The loud tone needles can be used anytime that a louder volume is desired. On worn records, soft tone needles work best. Not only do they offer a quieter sound, they also reduce the buzzing of the reproducer. The soft tone also reduces the noise created from worn spots on the record. Medium tone has a great average volume and can be used with most records.
The technology of the time was that the tip of the steel needles would wear quickly to the shape of the groove in the record. Ground greenstone was added to the mixture of shellac and carbon black when the records were pressed in molds to be made. The greenstone acted like a pumice to come in contact with the needle and grind it to shape quickly. After two full plays of the record, the needle becomes worn down and that is when record damage starts.
The needles come in three types: soft tone, medium tone, and loud tone. For better listening pleasure, the loud tone needles work best with the earlier records made prior to 1920. The loud tone needles can be used anytime that a louder volume is desired. On worn records, soft tone needles work best. Not only do they offer a quieter sound, they also reduce the buzzing of the reproducer. The soft tone also reduces the noise created from worn spots on the record. Medium tone has a great average volume and can be used with most records.
Big Band Era Records
Many people want to attempt to play post 1935 (Big Band Era) records on their earlier windup phonographs. Some familiar artists from that period are Bing Crosby, Harry James, Glenn Miller and The Andrews Sisters. By the time these records were made, the old windup units had already been relegated to the attic or discarded and people were using the newer electric phonographs. These electrics no longer had the heavy tone arm and reproducer that the earlier windup machines had. They used a lightweight tone arm and a very thin sapphire or rare earth metal stylus which didn't harm the records as much.
The record material became very soft since the manufactures were using a more pure shellac with less of the powered limestone in it. The problem starts when using these newer records on the older windup phonographs. They can cause the windup phonographs to drag down and even come to a stop. Our recommendation is that you strictly use the Soft Tone needles only if attempting to play these records on your windup phonograph. If there is heavy wear on the post 1935 records, this can cause even more of a drag problem.
Many people want to attempt to play post 1935 (Big Band Era) records on their earlier windup phonographs. Some familiar artists from that period are Bing Crosby, Harry James, Glenn Miller and The Andrews Sisters. By the time these records were made, the old windup units had already been relegated to the attic or discarded and people were using the newer electric phonographs. These electrics no longer had the heavy tone arm and reproducer that the earlier windup machines had. They used a lightweight tone arm and a very thin sapphire or rare earth metal stylus which didn't harm the records as much.
The record material became very soft since the manufactures were using a more pure shellac with less of the powered limestone in it. The problem starts when using these newer records on the older windup phonographs. They can cause the windup phonographs to drag down and even come to a stop. Our recommendation is that you strictly use the Soft Tone needles only if attempting to play these records on your windup phonograph. If there is heavy wear on the post 1935 records, this can cause even more of a drag problem.
Those of you with external-horn machines should consider getting a mixture of needles, soft or medium or loud tone. With no volume control on your machine, you’d need to use either type of needle to offer the greatest amount of sound when needed. This is the same way the customers in the past had to listen to their machine. If the machine was in a small room and didn’t need much volume, they’d use the soft tone. The loud tone would be used if they were listening to the music outside or if they were in a large room with lots of friends and family.
