Third try to send this. My apologies to anyone who is receiving it  
more than once. When you copy '78s', they probably were not recorded  
at 78 rpm. This is especially true of European disks where 80 is a  
common speed. There is even variation in the speed at which LPs were  
recorded and to make matters even more complicated, string sections  
were often tuned sharp. An additional question is what was used as  
standard pitch. It wasn't always 440. Adelina Patti had such a  
prominence in London in her day that she was able to threaten to go  
on strike if standard pitch was not lowered from 465!

I assume that you are referring to the arm bouncing because of warp  
in the record. Sometimes placing a dime on the top of the cartridge  
Will allow one to play the record. The characteristics of the arm and  
of the cartridge are both factors in this working or not and how bad  
the warp in the record is. I haven't done it but some used to remove  
the warp in the record by putting it between two pieces of glass and  
exposing it to sunlight. I would think that this should be done with  
caution.

More thoughts on the previous subject. In the very early days, say  
1900 to 1905, the number of disks that could be produced from a  
stamper was very limited and the earliest produced better sound so  
there is variation in what would appear to be identical records.  
Later issues of early records, the Tamagnos would be a good example  
as they were in great demand, usually have poor sound compared to  
even somewhat worn first pressings. It's worth trying for early  
pressings of these and similar early records though there isn't  
complete consistency in this. The sound quality on test pressings  
occasionally is very much better that the actual early released disks.

Of course none of this is indicated by dealers ratings though  
occasionally a dealer will comment on a rare record sounding well.

Malcolm Smith

On Aug 6, 2008, at 7:59 AM, Trey Bunn wrote:


> Hi everyone...
>
> I have some more questions about the lacquer disk I asked about last
> week.  I've started trying to transfer it, but it's skipping badly for
> about the first half of side A.  Would it make any sense to try to
> slightly weigh the cartridge down, like with a coin or something?  It
> just seems like the thing is skipping pretty high (and the 78 speed
> seems to be contributing to that), so I thought that weight might help
> prevent it.  On the other hand, it might make things worse.
>
> I did notice that when I slowed the speed down to 45, it skipped less,
> so I was thinking I might just record it this way and pitch correct it
> in the software.  Maybe slowing it down to 33 would produce even less
> skips.  But before I tried that, I wanted to ask those more
> knowledgable if that's a good idea or not, playing it at the wrong
> speed.  This is a unique recording, and I don't want to damage it
> further.
>
> Barring that or any other suggestions, it might be better to send this
> one out to a vendor.  Any takers?
>
>
> ---------
> Trey Bunn
> Audiovisual Conservator
> Emory University Libraries
> Preservation Office
> Atlanta, GA
> 404-727-4894
>