Comments by "John h Palmer" (@johnhpalmer6098) on "Automatic Record Changers: We used to like them" video.
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dandanthetaximan OK, I was wrong. Because he was talking about multiple LP sets of the 60's and not being familiar with this particular LP, I assumed it might've been a reissue, when in fact, it's a US pressing, not sure if original or not as London is used here in the US, Decca in most of Europe, thanks to Discogs, though it may still be a reissue, but a later issue, perhaps from the late 70's or early 80's, assuming it was issued that long.
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A couple of things to keep in mind with most, if not all changers is, the cheap cartridge. Most older units through the 60's used crystal carts, later ones like from BSR used a ceramic version and they all utilize the lowest form of stylus shape, the conical or spherical tip so vertical tracking angle is itself a moot point, with better tips like the elliptical stylus were more sensitive to this angle, with the elliptical stylus being the less sensitive of the better tip shapes such as the Shibata.
Plus, most changers had higher tracking forces, up to 5g if not a bit more with some models (think of the cheap Crosley cruiser models) and in some cases, you can see a wear ring ON the playing surface with some LP's that may show up during playback.
Also, with 78rpm playback, you need a stylus designed for 78's, so many of the older ceramic/crystal carts utilized a flip needle with one side for LP, the other for 78.
However the changer you had may have had a cheap MM cart on it, but still with a conical stylus, thus not ideal for 78rpm playback unless you swapped out the stylus for one made for 78rpm records.
Technically the outer edge of the LP has a semi rounded profile, that is technically what actually touches the previous record played, not the actual grooves, so once dropped likely the outer edge of the LP takes the wear, not the grooves itself.
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