[Dixielandjazz] Styli

[philwilking]

If you go back far enough, you find that some record companies recommended 
changing steel "needles" after each record. Osmium needles would last for 
maybe as many as ten plays before the sides of the point wore flat with 
sharp cutting edges, but metal needles all wore down rapidly. And the 
vertical groove Edisons have their own problems.

The wear problem and the groove damage it caused were the reason saphire, 
and later diamond, stylus tips became popular, even though individually they 
are more expensive than a steel or osmium needle. When combined with the 
much lighter tone arm pressure on the stylus for a long-playing record, the 
saphire stylus was touted as lasting many hours of play before wearing 
significantly.

PHIL WILKING

Those who would exchange freedom for
security deserve neither freedom nor security.