PeterPoggi Posted January 1, 2023 Share Posted January 1, 2023 As a newbie to this hobby and very ignorant of acoustic players or shellac records, I frequently found myself confused about which types of records should be played using different machines and their reproducers. I often looked for a reference on the subject but could find none. So, with a great deal of input from Gertie Maeder over several inquiries, i made an attempt at creating reference, primarily as an exercise to enhance for my own knowledge. I am glad to offer it up here for use, additional text or photo contributions, etc. Reproducer Compatibility Chart.docx 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RodPickett Posted January 1, 2023 Share Posted January 1, 2023 Thank you for your efforts and contributions. We look forward to updates on this initiative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPoggi Posted January 2, 2023 Author Share Posted January 2, 2023 Apparently there's a cutoff time for edits to an original post, so I'll post our first (minor) revision here. We just renamed it for clarification, added a few more contributor credits, identification of old records, and a referring link to www.discography.com Reproducer to Recording Media Compatibility Chart.docx 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPoggi Posted January 3, 2023 Author Share Posted January 3, 2023 Couple changes and fixes. Added a revision history section up front. Great suggestions from Rod Pickett. Any other suggestions are always welcome. Reproducer to Recording Media Compatibility Rev3.pdf 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coppercoils Posted January 5, 2023 Share Posted January 5, 2023 (edited) There's also the Victor No. 4 soundbox which is a mica diaphragm soundbox that victor determined was good enough for electrical recordings and released in 1926. It was available as an upgrade to acoustic machines as well as on some portables and tabletop machines into 1927. It looks like HMV may have used their version for longer, into 1931 on their HMV 101 portable. Edited January 5, 2023 by coppercoils 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPoggi Posted January 5, 2023 Author Share Posted January 5, 2023 Thanks - The No 4, i would have thought that the 5 and 6 were even higher quality - weren't they sequential improvements? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valecnik Posted January 7, 2023 Share Posted January 7, 2023 (edited) I don't know if you can get much better than a Victrola no. 4 if you want to play late 20s, even early thirties discs on an early 20s or earlier acoustic Victor machine. The numbers 5 and 6 fix to a larger diameter elbow so they would not fit. Pictured below are the H.M.V. (British) and Electrola (German) No 4. They are exactly the same as the Victgrola no. 4 except marking. Also pictured is an Exhibition for comparison. Edited January 7, 2023 by Valecnik text 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPoggi Posted January 7, 2023 Author Share Posted January 7, 2023 Thank you - I'm still quite ne at this so I appreciate your clarifying this for me. I"ll talk to George Paul and see about working this into the document. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valecnik Posted January 7, 2023 Share Posted January 7, 2023 30 minutes ago, PeterPoggi said: Thank you - I'm still quite ne at this so I appreciate your clarifying this for me. I"ll talk to George Paul and see about working this into the document. No problem at all. Also, I would add that needle type makes a big difference. For an acoustic 78, loud or medium tone are often preferrable. With late 20s to early 30s electrically recorded disc a soft tone needle is almost always preferrable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPoggi Posted January 27, 2023 Author Share Posted January 27, 2023 I've gotten unusually busy, but I'm going to do this. Would it be OK if I used your photo in the document when I add the updates? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valecnik Posted January 27, 2023 Share Posted January 27, 2023 2 hours ago, PeterPoggi said: I've gotten unusually busy, but I'm going to do this. Would it be OK if I used your photo in the document when I add the updates? If you mean my photos, yes feel free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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