From: Mike Csontos <[log in to unmask]>
>> I have a have and have seen several WWII Gem, Red Cross and other
>> discs but the original poster, on another list, states that they
>> are definitely "45" blanks.
Why did you use the word "definitely"??? It seemed immediately obvious
that she didn't know. This was confirmed by her off-list reply to me:
> What we have are the size of 45 records, 7 inches across, although
> in the attached photos that is unclear. They do not have the large
> hole as a typical 45 has, but rather the smaller hole of a larger
> record. From what you've mentioned, perhaps these played at a speed
> of 78 rpm? In fact, one has three holes, for maybe an assortment of turntables?
It is obvious that:
1) She called them 45s because she thought that a 7-inch record would be
a 45s.
2) She hasn't played them yet because it wouldn't take long to hear they
weren't at 45.
3) She does not know what the driving holes on the discs were.
4) She is not an expert on records.
5) I did not need her reply to have known anything but #3.
6) She originally called them "45 rpm album disks". The use of the word
"album" pre-confirmed #4.
> I have a 7" lacquer disc blank with the "45" center hole
> so they were available.
During WW II??????????? Besides, of the tens of thousands of lacquer
discs I have seen over the years I have come across exactly ONE 7-inch
lacquer with a 45 hole, and it was a professional grade heavy-weight
Reeves-Soundcraft from 1959. I have looked thru the catalogs of disc
blanks and found very, very few listings of large hole 7-inch discs.
Non before the mid to late 50s, and none at less than thick, heavy
professional grade. Of course the blanks used were custom made, but if
they had a large hole the recording machine MUST have a spindle adapter.
And if they recorded at 45 they would have to have been adapted to that
speed. And cutting microgroove also required modifying the feed-screw
and using more fragile microgroove cutting needles. If they indeed
continued to record these discs during Korea they would have done them
at 78. They used cheap thin home-grade discs, and a large hole would
weaken the disc, and microgroove is difficult to do well on cheap, thin,
amateur-grade discs.
> That may have been a likely format to use during the Korean war era,
> since a "45" player would have been more universally available than
> reel tape, or even a 78 turntable late in the decade.
The Korean War was over in 1953, which is EARLY in the decade, at which
time the 45 was NOT more universally available than a 78 turntable.
Besides, we and the poster are not discussing the Korean War, ONLY WW
II. Her organization is the "Institute on World War II & the Human
Experience"
> Of course during the 50's and 60's, there were many more alternate
> means available to "call home" than during WWII, but if one wanted
> to send a disc recording, the "45" format could make sense then.
> Mike Csontos
But we were not discussing anything but WW II. By the late 60s they
would be using cassettes, and many of the soldiers would have or have
access to personal cassette machines.
FYI, the photo she sent me shows a Gem Blades, a Wilcox-Gay Recordio
with what seems to be a fibre core a nd a yellowed clear lacquer
coating, and two special labeled discs with black lacquer. All
obviously 1940s vintage, pre-45 speed.
Mike Biel [log in to unmask]
In a message dated 11/18/2009 2:18:08 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
>>> These records were very widespread all over the country and in some of
>>> the major points of encampment around the world. But there is one thing
>>> that is very important for Ms. Denman to know about them -- they are NOT
>>> 45s, they are 78s. There was no 45 speed until 1949.
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