Advice on buying loud tone needles in bulk.

[electrolaman]

Hi All,  I in the past have always purchased loud tone quality "Swiss Steel" needles in large quantities (10,000) direct from the Pfanstiehl Company in Milwaukee, IL. The pricing back then was around .01 per needle. Phanstiehl sold out to LKG Industries, Inc. and moved to Rockford, IL  I last bought from them was in 2001 and the minimum purchase 300 needles with a price break at 5000 best price break was .016 per needle. I checked with this company last in 2019 and the pricing had gone up to .085 per needle only offering bulk of $85.00 per 1000. So they have became not economical in my opinion. 

 

I am asking members here what is theri experience with buying are the highest quality loud tone needles from a supplier that can buy in bulk and not be concerned about them having inferior needles mixed in with burrs?

 

Carlton Smith

Indianapolis, IN 

[CrackedWormgear]

I do remember those Swiss Pfanstiehl needles. Good quality but no longer available. I believe Pfanstiehl now uses one of the two remaining pin makers in the States.

 

http://www.jmdean.com

 

https://www.whbagshaw.com
 

For the quantity you are requesting you may have to go directly to the source.

 

For my modest needs I used several of the eBay vendors. Both domestic & foreign. But my experience is limited to medium tone needles.
 

Early electrical phonographs and changers are interesting to me. I have several friends who collect them. But for me they are fun to look at, but I really wouldn’t want to own one.

 

I wish you success in your search.

[melvind]

There are a number sellers on eBay selling loud, medium, and soft tone needles for about 4 cents per needle. 20 years ago you got them for about 1 cent per needle. I do not think 4 cents each is too much given inflation over two decades. There might still be some that are cheaper, maybe Ron Sitko, but 1000 needles last a pretty long time for most of us. I saw one offer for $43 for 1000 needles, others were $45 or so.