To be pedantic, the correct speed is actually 33 and a third. Oh I long for the return of days of vinyl and needles....................... But enough of my fetishes Lol
When records first came out the speed standards used were from 60 to 130rpm but this was eventually standardised at 78 rpm. I remember my grandad had lots of those old, as they were called at the time, gramophone records. I wish I still had them some can now be quite valuable. The use of the 78 rpm speed was discontinued in about 1960. In fact many of the early rock and roll records were released as 78's. The last Elvis Presley record released in the UK at this speed was Mess Of Blues/Girl Of My Best Friend which came out in 1960.
Our old Portadyne "Monogram" had a 16 speed setting, too, but I never ever saw a record that played at that speed. I believe that they may have been "talkies" - like learn a language things. On the TV front, we had a 14 inch Murphy. My Mum always had a smile on her face.
sorry, but having read this thread all the way through i just have a vision... please log in to view this image
Yep happy days mate.My old record player would'nt work unless you placed a small stone on top of the needle but jaysus then you got a cracking sound (I think). I remember selling Sjt Peppers Lonely H/C Band LP to a lass across the street for either 10or 50 old pence. Mind you I got me hand up her Jumper and on the outside of her Bra.Couldn't get the ****ing thing off though.Still major achievement in Dublin in those days.
Some of the old rock 'n' roll records were indeed on 78s. I dropped Buddy Holly's 'Maybe Baby' on the floor and it shattered into about six pieces! The first vinyl record I had was Lonnie Donegan's 'Cumberland Gap' on Pye Nixa label which was also a 78. You don't see many vinyl 78s but that one was.
Syd - it wasnt me mate (see Commachio) but if you want my thoughts, I'd say you're the one on the left? Ha Ha