[Dixielandjazz] A diversion: jazz and American literature.

[Bill Haesler]

M J (Mike) Logsdon wrote:
> I'm re-reading Sinclair Lewis's "Babbitt".
> In chapter 7 are found the following excerpts:
> "In a corner by the front windows was a large cabinet Victrola....   
> Against the wall was a piano, with another piano-lamp, but no one  
> used it....  The hard briskness of the phonograph contented them;  
> their store of jazz records made them feel wealthy and cultured; and  
> all they knew of creating music was the nice adjustment of a bamboo  
> needle."
> The novel was published in 1920 [later corrected to <set>].  Any  
> guesses as to what Lewis was thinking of as he wrote these words?

Dear Mike,
Okeh here 'tis, a bit late.
I'm in lurking mode at the moment (not by choice), but have been  
following the tread.
The phonograph expert, Tim Gracyk, had this to say regarding fibre and  
bamboo needles, which confirms their use in 1920.
Very kind regards,
Bill.

"Fibre or Bamboo Needles
Another needle is the fibre, or bamboo, needle. Patented on November  
12, 1907, it should not be confused with the cactus or thorn needle  
common during the WWII period. A fibre needle is soft. One should re- 
shape the tip before or after it is played, using a special cutting  
tool. You can get from eight to a dozen plays from a fibre needle,  
depending upon your cutting tool.

Fibre needles are gentle on records. Companies claimed that the oily  
substance in the bamboo acted as a lubricant which would polish and  
smooth grooves each time a record is played. The soft tone produced by  
a fibre needle appeals to some. A drawback is fibre needles sometimes  
wear out before a record is over (the needle wears down--those who  
manufactured fibre needles claimed "there is absolutely no wear to the  
records" when fibre needles are used, and they may be correct).

No company makes fibre needles today. Old ones can be found in  
machines sometimes. The fibre needle was invented by Fred D. Hall of  
the B. & H. Fibre Company, a Chicago outfit. Hall sold fibre needle  
rights to the Victor Talking Machine Company in 1910 although issues  
from 1916 of Talking Machine World show that Hall revived his fibre  
needle business, large ads warning dealers to avoid "infringing  
needles...brought here from Japan." Hall's Fibre Needles (he used  
capital letters as Victor did for Tungs-tone) were made from bamboo  
imported from Japan. The November 15, 1916, issue of Talking Machine  
World has an article about how fibre needles were made. The price for  
fibre needles in 1917 was $4 per thousand, or 40 cents for a package  
of 100."