Why were record speeds chosen?

In 1931, RCA Victor introduced the 33 1/3 format, in an attempt to boost record sales that had been dropping since the stock market crash two years previously, but the lack of turntables that spun at 33 1/3 r.p.m., combined with the poor quality of the records in general, doomed the project to failure.

When did they stop making 78 RPM records?

1959
In just ten years, 78s plummeted to only 2\% of music sales. And in 1959, the last US-made 78 record was produced. Not all sales went directly over to 33s, however. Although many did, there wasn’t always a need to use up all 40 minutes of an LP.

What speed became standard for new LP records?

Only the microgroove standard was new, as both vinyl and the 331⁄3 rpm speed had been used for special purposes for many years, as well as in one unsuccessful earlier attempt (by RCA Victor) to introduce a long-playing record for home use.

Are 45 rpm records still made?

The arrival of the compact disc in the 1980s severely curbed production of LP and 45 discs. Sales of both dropped quickly and most major label record companies stopped releasing them in large amounts by the early 1990s. However, both are still being produced to this day.

Are 78 RPM records worth anything?

He said that on average a rare jazz 78 might sell for $1,500 to $5,000, whereas sales for a comparable blues record would start at $5,000. Paramount’s blues releases — especially its “race” records with label numbers in the 12000s and 13000s — are among the most coveted records in the world.

Why does vinyl have different speeds?

Record players have these different speeds because records were designed to be played at different speeds. You want to make sure to have your player at the correct speed otherwise the record will sound “off” and will either be higher pitched and faster than it should be or sound deeper and slower than it should.

What was the last 78 RPM record?

American 78s – The Last Year – June 1959 to June 1960 was the last year that 78 rpm records were commercially produced in America.

Are any 78 records valuable?

How long is a 78 RPM record?

about three to five minutes
The durations of 78 RPM recordings is about three to five minutes per side, depending on the disc size. If it is a 12 inch disc, it usually holds four to five minutes of music. A ten inch typically holds three minutes. The 78 format faded from the scene by 1955, when vinyl took over.

What do I do with old 78 RPM records?

If you have old 78s you’d like to donate, the Great 78 Project will accept your old 78 records and digitize them to post online. But reading their FAQs, it does not appear they will ship those old records back to you.

Why did 45 rpm records have a big hole?

This torque tended to cause the small holes to go out-of-round very quickly, causing record to wobble as it spun. The larger hole allowed the sudden rotational force to be distributed over a longer path—pi x 1.5 = about 4.712 inches—reducing wear and allowing the hole to stay round longer.