Boogie Woogie on St. Louis Blues (1945) Earl Hines on V DISC

Thanks very much for the very entertaining and informative posting.

Thanks! More v-discs are welcome!

Sappire Needles Were Introduced In 1938,Some 5 Years Before V-Discs Were Made,But Tracking Of Vinyl Safely Wasnt Perfected Until The Introduction Of LPs In 1948.

Yes, saphire needles are prior to the V Discs. For example "Telefunken" in germany intoduced his "TO 1000" pickup with a saphire needle as early as 1936. But with the V-Disc packages came, by request, a portable acoustic phonograph player - with the use of steel needles.

Sappire Might Have Also Been Rationed During The War.

Cactus Needles And Even Needles Made From Nails Were Most Used On The Homefront During The War.The Steel Needles Were Probably Sent Over To The Troops,Or The Steel Was Used To Make Vehicles Used In The Military.

This had been the same on the other side of the ocean... :)
Steel and other metal had been given away. Even church bells.
Old people told me they played their records with everything thin and sharp enought...

I heard pine needles were used!
G