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----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom Fine" <[log in to unmask]> > Does anyone sell cactus needles anymore? Can those types be used in an original Victrola machine > (pre-RCA)? No, I don't play good condition 78's on this thing, I have a whole box of Salvation Army > 5 cent disks to play on it, but I'm wondering if a cactus needle is slightly gentler? Does it sound > any better? > I'm not sure if anyone is actually MANUFACTURING "thorn" (aka "cactus" 78 needles...but there may be some NOS originals, as well as the sharpeners used to maintain them...?! It seems to me that this type of needle would be easier on the records, though I can't make any experience-based comments here. A couple of things worth noting... 1) Playing electric records on an acoustic machine will always produce a worse sound... 2) If the records are REALLY "well-worn" they could cause wear and tear on the thorn needles (my guess...!)... Steven C. Barr