1921 Brunswick phonograph plays vertical and lateral

[Glinkaism1]

There are both vertical and lateral electrical recordings. I recall that some radio shows were recorded using the vertical "hill and dale" method because there was no groove noise: no hiss or scratch reproduced. It was clearly a superior recording method to lateral which give us clicks, pops, stuck grooves, hiss and other unwanted "needle talk."

So why was the inferior lateral recording method the winner for analog records?

Can someone answer that, please? Thank you.

[foxtrotgin]

@Glinkaism1 It all came down to price and popularity. Vertical ''Hill and Dale'' recordings were more expensive and needed to be played with more versatile machines and sometimes special needles. The public also wanted the newest music, which was not always available on such discs. They WERE able to make longer recordings using the vertical process (hence the use in radio broadcast) But didn't catch on with the public as much.

[Glinkaism1]

@foxtrotgin I recall a vertical player at a radio station. A special promo disc was vertically cut. The tone looked like some prehistoric bird! But the quality was superb. The turntable ran at 33 1/3 speed, which was standard for vertical players. Despite the 16-inch transcription disc with a myriad of tracks, that was the only used for the player!

The guy who "invented" 33 1/3 rpm for vinyl LP/long playing discs actually took the speed of the vertical recording process for lateral recording.

[sheffmb]

I got the same machine. It's my favorite piece I have from my favorite era.

[victrolaman]

Just curious, what type of stylus are you using to play the Edison? Is it one of those sapphire needles that were sold to play Edison records on Pathe and Brunswick Phonographs? Thanks for sharing.

[m2esectr]

Here I've used a loud steel needle in the Pathé slot because that's the way it tracked the best; you see me remove it at the end of the record. Curiously, it does not damage as much as my Pathé sapphire did on my first Edison record. The record played here will still be playable on the Edison phonograph it was intended for.

[radioman56]

@victrolaman he is useing the saphire thats suppose to be used for pathe' only I know I have this type of sound box plus i have the ultona but will only use the proper end for the record it was made for

[victrolaman]

@radioman56 Not according to his reply (see above). He is using a loud tone steel needle in the Pathe Slot because "that's the way it tracked the best".