Re: [ARSCLIST] Playing a "flexi disc"

[David Lewis <davlew@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I have a sheaf of perhaps forty of these green, thin plastic discs in
recorded Chinese lessons; I had no idea of their date, but figured they
were at least pre-1950. They do indeed run at 33.3 rpm, and mine are 
recorded on both sides, so it's very difficult to get them to track
properly.

David N. Lewis
Assistant Classical Editor, All Music Guide

"To collect [folksongs] without a phonograph - until there's something
better - is mad and criminal." - Percy Grainger, 1907

-----Original Message-----
From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
[mailto:ARSCLIST@xxxxxxx] On Behalf Of David Lennick
Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2007 4:19 PM
To: ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Playing a "flexi disc"

Richard Warren wrote:
> Dear Barbara Need,
> 
> If the disc is translucent green vinyl, it may be a Soundscriber disc. 
> These were 33.3 rpm microgroove, so you should try to play it as if it 
> were an LP. Pray that it hasn't warped; if it has, you may need to send 
> it to someone with excellent equipment and much experience.
> 
> Sincerely, Richard
> 
> At 02:59 PM 7/17/2007, you wrote:
>> I have been asked to get a digital transfer from what I believe to be 
>> a "Flexi disc" (thin green plastic /vinyl disc with a square hole). 
>> The only complication is that, as far as I can tell, these were LPs 
>> and, therefore, no earlier than 1948. The date on the disc, however, 
>> is '43. We have an osmium stylus (which we use for 78s)  and a diamond 
>> stylus (which we use for LPs). What stylus should I use for playback? 
>> (And if you have recommendations for adding to my stylus supply, I 
>> would welcome that as well, though I may not be able to do anything 
>> about it just yet.)
>>
>> Barbara
>>
>> Barbara Need
>> Manager
> 
I've seen very thin flexible orange and yellow discs which were used for
home 
disc recorders in the 40s..don't know why this one would have a square hole,

unless the original hole was too tight and someone has enlarged it. If it's
one 
of these home cuts, it would probably play at 78. Does it look like a
factory 
product with a printed "label" or might it be a home cut?

dl