PRODUCTS:
DVD: "Disk Recording 1925-1975" http://www.highlandlab.com/diskrecordingdvd.htm, $25 w/ shipping.
BOOK: "Disk Recording 1930-1960" http://www.highlandlab.com/diskrecording.htm, also $25 w/ shipping.
SHORT REVIEW: Superb, visually & informationally, both book & DVD. They're sort of like a matched pair. A bit of overlap but great info in both.
CONTENTS, DVD: Besides a history of recorded sound, shows as the web page says, demo's of cutting with 1930s-1960s(70s?) Westrex cutters. You see the cutter cutting while you hear the sound from the feedback coils of those cutters with feedback, then you hear playback through a pickup and amplifier of the same era, designed to complement that cutterhead. Also, shows disassembled versions of several cutterheads and details of their mechanics; of particular interest I found was detailed description of construction of the various versions of the Westrex 45-degree stereo cutter. A skilled metalworker could make a repro. So begin my aspirations of a new hobby, metalworking & machining. 45 min.
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. CONTENTS, BOOK: A man's attempt to give an overview, "for hobbyists and professionals", of his life experience and amassed technical info on disk cutting, 1930-1960, within just 88 pages. Lots of great pictures. Lots of PRACTICAL IDEAS that you can use for cutting; great common sense workarounds to various shortcomings of different less-than-perfect record cutting equipment which will have you repeatedly saying, "I gotta try that". Tons of super cool ads for lathes. I had NO IDEA there were so many various small companies making odd-ball semi-pro and pro lathes. 88 pages; wish it was longer, but well worth the $25 with shipping.
Just sent the owner of Highland Labs a thank-you email for making this stuff available...
- Bob
