Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeffhs
I thought talking books were always recorded at 16 2/3 RPM. All four-speed record players/changers (and Zenith's Cobra-Matic changer with its variable speed control, from about 15 to 85 RPM) had 16 RPM just for that purpose. I was not aware that talking books were ever recorded at any other speed than 16 RPM. Hmmm. 
The glass dial scale on your unit looks good to me; I only noticed a great deal of dust on it. Doesn't look to me like it needs replacing yet, unless it is cracked or the painted-on scales are flaking off. I've never seen the paint flake on one of these old glass scales; I have seen old sets on eBay with glass dials that still had both scales on them, perfectly readable and usable. |
Gov't funded talking book service for the blind began in 1934 with the first talking books recorded at 33 1/3 rpm. The machines to play these books were loaned to the borrower for as long as they were involved in the gov't talking book program. Sometime during the late '50's, two speed machines came out that could play 16 2/3 rpm and 33 1/3 rpm. I'm aware that consumer grade phonographs were available prior to the late '50's that could play 16 rpm records. I'm only speaking of the gov't issued machines that were loaned to the blind and visually impaired. In the mid '60's, three speed machines were introduced that could play 8 1/3 rpm, 16 2/3 rpm, and 33 1/3 rpm. By the early '70's, the 8 1/3 rpm record became the standard for all gov't funded talking books. The 8 1/3 rpm record stayed around until the end of 2000 when the last magazines were recorded on 9" flexible soundsheets. The earlier 16 rpm and some of the 8 rpm books were pressed on 10" rigid disc with a normal spindle hole. The 33's were on 12" disc similar to a regular LP. The reason the gov't went with the 8 rpm disc was to achieve more playing time on a record and to prevent the records from being played on standard consumer phonographs should one of these records fall into the hands of someone not enrolled in the gov't talking book program.