Interestingly enough I have seen a few adverts recently for a record
flattening device. It seems to cost about $1600 USD.
Does anyone know about this thing and is it "dishwasher safe" so to
speak. I wonder about it's efficacy but with an unplayable
record I guess you don't have that much to lose...except the $1600 of
course!
AA
Malcolm Smith wrote:
> 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
>>
>
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