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Post by Brian Denton on Aug 24, 2003 23:46:00 GMT
When I was a kid (early sixties) all record players came with a dial for varying the speed - 78rpm, 45rpm, 33rpm and 16rpm. Now, never in my life have I come across a 16rpm record, never seen one in a shop and know nobody who has. Did they really exist, and when did they stop being used if the sixties record player had to cater for them?
It was good fun to play 45s at 16 tho.....!
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Post by Matthew North on Aug 25, 2003 7:58:27 GMT
16 rpm records were used for speach, mostly in the usa
Matt
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Post by Peter on Aug 25, 2003 9:00:54 GMT
When I was a kid (early sixties) all record players came with a dial for varying the speed - 78rpm, 45rpm, 33rpm and 16rpm. Now, never in my life have I come across a 16rpm record, never seen one in a shop and know nobody who has. Did they really exist, and when did they stop being used if the sixties record player had to cater for them? It was good fun to play 45s at 16 tho.....! Yes, they certainly did exist;the few I had were promotional flexi-discs for things like the Reader's Digest box sets. I always assumed that these flexis ran at 16rpm because they would have been difficult for a cartridge to track at a higher speed. Hope this helps. Peter Chadwick  |
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Post by Laurence Piper on Aug 25, 2003 9:52:32 GMT
Yes, I always used to wonder about 16rpm discs in the '60s too! I never saw one either but was reliably informed they did exist. I've never seen one SINCE either!
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Post by Matthew North on Aug 25, 2003 10:06:30 GMT
Yes, they certainly did exist;the few I had were promotional flexi-discs for things like the Reader's Digest box sets. I always assumed that these flexis ran at 16rpm because they would have been difficult for a cartridge to track at a higher speed. Hope this helps. Peter Chadwick Naa the readers digest flexis were 33 rpm, i err have wquite a few, the sensational 70s with tony blackburn is well funny!! Matt |
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Post by Neil Barker on Aug 25, 2003 10:47:05 GMT
I remember my parents still having a record player with 16 on it by the late '70s. They never had any 16rpm records though (or 78s come to think of it).
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Post by Peter on Aug 25, 2003 10:50:25 GMT
Hmmmm, I remember a 16rpm I had that was voiced by Alan Freeman. It was definitely for a sixties music box set-I was sure it was a Readers Digest box. Can't think of anyone else who used to do those box sets. Any ideas??  Peter |
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Post by SteveP on Aug 25, 2003 20:53:20 GMT
AFAIK 16.666rpm (for that twas the true speed) were mainly talking books for the blind.
Steve
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Post by greg glenn on Aug 26, 2003 1:49:50 GMT
16 rpm was on phonographs for years here in the US. My first one from the mid 70's had it. Also those heavy duty, solid as a rock phonographs for schools had it. Talking books for the blind were the big users of this speed and are still made as I have seen them in the mail (I'm a postal worker). I have seen other 16 rpm records that were not talking books but I can't think off hand what they were. There were more made than you would think.
gg ;D
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Post by Brian Denton on Aug 26, 2003 15:32:49 GMT
Thanks for the info - it has helped clear up a mystery. The mention of flexi disks makes me wince though - I used to be a member of the Beatles Fan Club in the sixties, and had three or four of the flexi disks they made as Xmas Specials for the fan club. Alas, in a fit of youthful madness in about 1972 I stapled the lot together, in order to test out my new toy. They'd be worth a few bob now, as would the hundreds of DC comics I must have got through in the sixties (I've just been to a comic book shop in Chester with my son, and couldn't believe the prices the old Flash and Green Lantern comics were going for).
Aah, the gift of hindsight - and limitless attic space!
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