RunOutGroove
Addicted Member
Those are nice titles. I'd be intersted in the B-sides, which are likely difficult or impossible to find on LP...
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45 rpm.... who's into it and why?
- Thread starter RunOutGroove
- Start date
Stack
Active Member
Before getting a turntable that could be used as a drop changer, I didn't keep many 45s. Having to stand up and switch the record after only 3 minutes is just a little too involved for me, so I only had maybe a dozen or so singles that were either sentimental, or just songs that I really liked.
Since getting a nice Elac Miracord, which can stack up to ten 45s safely with the proper spindle, I've found a lot more utility in these old singles and have a new found appreciation for them. Albums are great and still my primary way of listening to records, but being able to stack up 10 singles in a randomized physical playlist is just neat. Do 7" 45s sound the best? Rarely. Is Spotify a better option for listening to singles? Yes, but it's not as much fun as watching that old girl go through the mechanized motions of picking up the stylus, pulling it out of the way, dropping the next record, and cueing it up.
I now make a habit of picking up singles whenever I see them in decent condition, so I can throw new songs into the mix. I don't really care if they aren't in perfect condition. They're just for fun.
Since getting a nice Elac Miracord, which can stack up to ten 45s safely with the proper spindle, I've found a lot more utility in these old singles and have a new found appreciation for them. Albums are great and still my primary way of listening to records, but being able to stack up 10 singles in a randomized physical playlist is just neat. Do 7" 45s sound the best? Rarely. Is Spotify a better option for listening to singles? Yes, but it's not as much fun as watching that old girl go through the mechanized motions of picking up the stylus, pulling it out of the way, dropping the next record, and cueing it up.
I now make a habit of picking up singles whenever I see them in decent condition, so I can throw new songs into the mix. I don't really care if they aren't in perfect condition. They're just for fun.
The large center spindle hole in the 45 single was used because jukeboxes with automated changers (loaders) could place the disk into the player, and accuracy of positioning due to mechanical tolerances and wear & tear was not as important as it would be for trying to get a record with a 1/4 inc hole positioned over the spindle with the increased positioning accuracy required for that.
Usually never to 45 singles since my main TT doesn't have auto return. Cool story though, I bought this UK M. Jackson singles pack (accordion sleeve covers) from an AK'er on BarterTown, but it was missing one. These are red disc singles 1983, in incredible condition, well the one missing one I found on Discogs a couple days later being sold by itself to complete the collection.
I'm with @Stack, if any singles are gonna be played it's on an Elac.
I'm with @Stack, if any singles are gonna be played it's on an Elac.
orthophonic
Super Member
Jukeboxes had nothing to do with the development of the 45, RCA started 45 development in 1939 looking for an improved record designed for record changers. Most of the changers of that time were called slicers and if the record was warped or not perfect they would chip the fragile shellac 78's.
They wanted a smaller disc that was easy to handle and store and their studies showed that 45 RPM was the slowest speed at a 7 inch diameter
that would reduce distortion. They also decided that the safest changing would be from the center and decided on the larger hole.
They developed the record and a special changer designed just for them.
WWII started and the project was shelved. After the war record sales were so great that they didn't think a change was needed until rival Columbia introduced the long playing LP. President of RCA David Sarnoff was infuriated that Columbia had a superior product and they quickly dusted off
the 45 system, made some tweaks and introduced it in less than a year.
RCA spent a lot of money promoting the 45 and player but sales were slow at first. Jukebox manufacturer Seeburg knew this format would be perfect for Jukeboxes being smaller, lighter and non-breakable. Seeburg had just introduced the Select o Matic 100 mechanism that played 100 selections
instead of the 20-24 that Jukeboxes had been stuck with for almost two decades, they saw the 45 as perfect for this new mechanism. RCA made a deal with Seeburg to guarantee releases of 45's from major labels RCA, Capitol and Decca, and some independents. Seeburg introduced the first 45 only Jukebox and record sales took off. The public could see and hear the
new 45 and sales of the players and 45s took off for home use.
This created the war of the speeds but by 1950, Columbia relented and started making 45's and RCA started making LP's. The 45 was ideal for singles pop and later rock and roll market and LP's were ideal for classical
and compilations so the two coexisted for decades.
The Jukebox had a lot to do with the acceptance and success of the 45 but
nothing to do with its development.
I love 45's and have over 20,000 of them.
They wanted a smaller disc that was easy to handle and store and their studies showed that 45 RPM was the slowest speed at a 7 inch diameter
that would reduce distortion. They also decided that the safest changing would be from the center and decided on the larger hole.
They developed the record and a special changer designed just for them.
WWII started and the project was shelved. After the war record sales were so great that they didn't think a change was needed until rival Columbia introduced the long playing LP. President of RCA David Sarnoff was infuriated that Columbia had a superior product and they quickly dusted off
the 45 system, made some tweaks and introduced it in less than a year.
RCA spent a lot of money promoting the 45 and player but sales were slow at first. Jukebox manufacturer Seeburg knew this format would be perfect for Jukeboxes being smaller, lighter and non-breakable. Seeburg had just introduced the Select o Matic 100 mechanism that played 100 selections
instead of the 20-24 that Jukeboxes had been stuck with for almost two decades, they saw the 45 as perfect for this new mechanism. RCA made a deal with Seeburg to guarantee releases of 45's from major labels RCA, Capitol and Decca, and some independents. Seeburg introduced the first 45 only Jukebox and record sales took off. The public could see and hear the
new 45 and sales of the players and 45s took off for home use.
This created the war of the speeds but by 1950, Columbia relented and started making 45's and RCA started making LP's. The 45 was ideal for singles pop and later rock and roll market and LP's were ideal for classical
and compilations so the two coexisted for decades.
The Jukebox had a lot to do with the acceptance and success of the 45 but
nothing to do with its development.
I love 45's and have over 20,000 of them.
There's a milkcrate full of 7" (mainly) 45 rpm singles from my DJ days sitting somewhre in my house.
I have no idea which percentage of my 12" and 10" records plays at 45 rpm.
The 7" only comes out when I dj at 80's/90's dance parties, which is once or twice a year and sometimes I use them for sampling.
12" gets much more play over here!
I have no idea which percentage of my 12" and 10" records plays at 45 rpm.
The 7" only comes out when I dj at 80's/90's dance parties, which is once or twice a year and sometimes I use them for sampling.
12" gets much more play over here!
KentTeffeteller
Gimpus Stereophilus!
Beautiful 45 RPM singles, and an equally beautiful Dual 1009. I own the 1019 in the slanted wood Dual plinth, and the cake plate dust cover. I also own the 45 RPM stacking spindle for my Dual and the LP one. I love this post and photo.
Doug G.
Lunatic Member
I didn't really start playing LPs until 1964 or so. When I was really young, 2 1/2 - 3 years old in the fifties, I played my ittle Golden Records and the 78s my dear parents had bought after the war in the late forties. They were played on an old 78 RPM Webster changer my dad had wired into an old 1930s style console radio we had.
45s started to appear in about 1957 when my dear grandmother brought me records removed from the jukebox at the Terp ballroom where she worked. My neighbor's parents ran a roller rink and he received 45s from the jukebox there so he and I were never short of having the fairly latest hits of the day.
They had one of those RCA Slide-O-Matic players so we used that when I was over there. My VM model 210 was my pride-and-joy for quite a few years.
Back then, I would sit right in front of that record player and just change the records by hand and thought nothing of it.
Doug
45s started to appear in about 1957 when my dear grandmother brought me records removed from the jukebox at the Terp ballroom where she worked. My neighbor's parents ran a roller rink and he received 45s from the jukebox there so he and I were never short of having the fairly latest hits of the day.
They had one of those RCA Slide-O-Matic players so we used that when I was over there. My VM model 210 was my pride-and-joy for quite a few years.
Back then, I would sit right in front of that record player and just change the records by hand and thought nothing of it.
Doug