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To: Jersey Republican Biker Chick
I have some 78 RPM records at home.

Cool! There are still turntables around to play those discs. However, if you want to listen to them more than just once it is much better to archive and record them onto a more modern medium such as CD or tape, then store the originals away in a safe place. They are easily damaged.

The machine I have is a different sort of critter, however. It doesn't play 78 RPM discs - it simply records them on 78 blanks off of the wire recorder. It's an old office dictation/memo machine. These were used before the invention of magnetic tape to record dictation, memos, meetings, etc. on spools of extremely thin steel wire. Then if a more permanent record was desired, the recording on the wire could be dubbed onto a blank 78 RPM disc by the cutting stylus, and the wire could be rewound and used again.

Primitive stuff by today's standards, but it was "state of the art" way back when!

71 posted on 08/17/2007 7:23:59 AM PDT by tarheelswamprat
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To: tarheelswamprat
The machine I have is a different sort of critter, however. It doesn't play 78 RPM discs - it simply records them on 78 blanks off of the wire recorder.

I dimly recall encountering a vending machine that would cut a 78 rpm (or was it 45?) disc. It was a booth with a microphone. You put in some change, and it started up and recorded what you said on the disc and then spit it out, along with a mailing envelope. Voice mail, 1950's vintage.

88 posted on 08/17/2007 12:01:38 PM PDT by cynwoody
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