stamper playback system

[ameise]

hey trolls,

i guess somebody already came up with this
sorry for posting again:

does anyone have a playback system for stampers or "fathers"
the needle tip should look like a "W" i guess

or is that just rumour that sure made such a beast?

thanks for any ideas!
mart

[mossboss]

Not a rumor Stanton did make a stylus to do that I never seen one in real life but I met a guy in Florida who confirmed that when they where pressing records there they did use it not only for play back but for de clicking them
The guy is still around and he does do a cut or two every now and than as he has a full set up
He said there may be some still in a trailer full of shit from the old days about 30 years ago, some day if he looks through it and finds any he let me know Ha Ha
I asked him when was the last time he looked in there he said when they packed all the shit in there and left it in the yard where it is still to this day OK I said you let me know
Cheers

[opcode66]

This story makes me wonder how many trailers, basements and storage spaces exist out there full of record cutting and pressing equipment. What is in all these secret stashes? When will they see the light of day? Why are people hoarding these things and not letting others use them?

[piaptk]

This story makes me wonder how many trailers, basements and storage spaces exist out there full of record cutting and pressing equipment. What is in all these secret stashes? When will they see the light of day? Why are people hoarding these things and not letting others use them?

I'll bet a lot of people just don't think anyone would WANT to use them.

[ameise]

hehe, yes it is getting another "trailer" - story...
i've seen too many of those so called warehouses
and I am afraid my place does already look like such to others
i will ask stanton haha
i need it, today. hehe
maybe i will ask our diamond grinder to do one...

[Serif]

A bifurcated stylus is what you seek. Plays mountains, instead of valleys.

While looking for your vendor - to no avail - I just read that the male marsupials, other than 'roo, have a, um, bifurcated stylus of their own! The female in turn has a bifurcated groove. Double-dipping?

Yes, there are two paths you can go by...
But, why not take _both_?






- Stylus Wigglesworth

[emorritt]

Does Wyndam Hodgson at Expert in the UK make these? Just a thought...

[gold]

I have checked into this and no one that I have contacted would do it. I do know someone who could make them but it would be expensive. I know the Library of Congress would buy a couple. If there is enough interest I could pursue it further. Remember, it will be expensive and I won't be making any money on it.

[dubcutter89]

for all those who need a quick, cheap solution, do it like this:

-place stamper on turnatable
-tilt turntable
-place tonearm on the inside
(maybe add force/weight to cartridge)
-playback
-record playback on computer
-reverse audio

-- and then listen to your stamper

the playback is in mono. maybe you can get some stereo information if you playback both walls (tilt tt in 2 ways...) but...

MONO RULEZ!

a little inspiration:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmRbVrs4Ibw

all the best

Lukas

[piaptk]

haha.. that's great!!

[Steve E.]

Some mastering houses must have something like this. That massive RCA Duke Ellington set from 1999 used old metal stampers from the 1930's and 1940's for many of the tracks. And it is my understanding that they actually played the stampers rather than pressing new records from them.

In that particular case, the results are often distorted and unusually noisy, and I don't know why, given that the man in charge of that project often does great work. It may have been due to poor decisions elsewhere in the production chain.

OR....it might have been corrosion on the stampers. It occurs to me that one potential problem with playing old stampers, instead of pressing new copies with them: If there were _minor_ bumps of rust on the hills, these would show up as little holes in a pressed "valley" groove, which a correctly-shaped stylus might just skate above. But as a bump on a hill, it will be played. I have no first hand experience here....total guesses.

[gold]

As I understand it Stanton was the sole supplier of these carts. I chased down someone at Stanton who knew what i was talking about but they had none hiding. I tried bribery.

None of the custom cart suppliers want to do it that I know of. Maybe with a big enough order they would? I spoke to the head of audio at the Library of Congress and they don't have one. They want one. They should have one. I haven't tried places like Vidipack because if they have one they surely aren't going to sell it.

I have a Stanton stamper playback turntable but the cart is trashed.

[mossboss]

What a big enough order would consist of in terms of units Paul
I would go for a few say 12 units
Of course it is an ongoing requirement
May be the guy that knew what you where talking about can enlighten you/us
Cheers

[gold]

I think 12 plus whatever else I could round up would be plenty to get him going. It's the guy who rebuilds the SX-74's. He worked for Stanton for many years designing phono carts. He's been winding coils for over 50 years. He showed me that he had drawer full of Stanton coil forms. I haven't talked to him directly about it but I've been assured that's it's well within his area of expertise. I'll see him after the new year and ask in more detail.

[ameise]

Hi Paul and All!
thanks for your investigations.
It seems as if there is scientific interest in these
needles. So let's try to get it done somehow!
I will carry some old Pickup needles to our supplier of Diamond styli
and will ask him if he has a tool to cut a notch into the tip...
it seems from the photos that Lukas sent me, that Stanton made it this way:
take a regular playback tip and cut out a piece...
Will get back about it soon (in terms of "this year")
peace
mart

[phax]

anything new about this??
i'm also VERY interested in such a playback system!!

[Steve E.]

Someone should hunt down a 78 restoration scholar/engineer named Stephen Lasker. If he doesn't have one, he'll know who does. I have no connection to him.

[Angus McCarthy]

A thought occurs to me, whether any competent jeweler could cut a notch fine enough in the tip of, say, a 3-mil stylus to ride comfortably on a stamper.

[Aussie0zborn]

This is very necessary. Unfortunately Stanton Magnetics was sold some ten years ago to an importer of cheap Chinese DJ equipment, and sold to Gibson Guitar Corp two years ago so no chance of any technical expertise there. Why not ask Shure if they can make such a stylus seeing as they are still under original ownership and are a serious high-tech company?

[phax]

i think a modified cartridge wouldn't work cause it's too small!?

look-->>



that's the stanton we're (all) looking for...