Re: 16 rpm records

[Graham Newton <gn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

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"G. W. Ulrich Sieveking" wrote to the arsclist:

> I know that there must have been microgroove recordings made at 16 2/3
> rpm (they're mentioned on Graham Newton's Site, and I own two record
> players - both are older than I am - offering that speed), but I never
> came across any of these recordings in the market.  So I'd like to know,
> if there has ever been a substantial market for these discs or if they
> never really gained momentum because of obvious technical problems due
> to their low angular speed.

Hello Ulrich...

Mostly, they were used for talking books because of the long playing time of a
side.  Although these were used by sighted people, their greatest use was by
the blind.  There was a great deal of material circulated for this purpose, and
much of it is still in use by the blind.  Also there were music discs,
typically a library of background "elevator" music, done by Seeburg that looked
like 45 rpm records on steroids.  The discs were 9" in diameter with a 2"
center hole.

There were many other examples although they don't turn up that often.


... Graham Newton

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