Tungs-Tone Stylus and Music

The most common packaging for Tungs-tone needles was a tin box that holds eight needles. The tins came later. When the "Tungs-tone" was introduced in 1916, the needles came in a punch-out card. The earliest ad I have seen for this new Victor product is from June 1916. There was trouble over the name when it was registered with the Patent Office, we learn from the August 15, 1916 issue of Talking Machine World. An article states, "The word was rejected by the United States Examiner of Trade-Marks at Washington until he was instructed from the office of the United States Commissioner of Patents to rule differently." The trade-mark examiner felt "Tungs-tone" was too close to "tungsten." In a similar ruling, "Tungsteel" was judged no good for razors and pocket knives. Anyway, Victor was allowed to use the name, and early ads always use a capital letter (Tungs-tone, not tungs-tone), giving the product more dignity.

A Tungsten or Tungs-Tone is a type of phonograph stylus. They are constructed from tungsten wire, which is held in a metal shank. Unlike a steel stylus, a tungsten stylus has a cylindrical rather than a conical shape, meaning that the cross-section of the stylus remains the same as the stylus wears down, which in turn means that tungsten styluses may be used for several plays.

Typically, a new steel needle is required for every record played on an old acoustic phonograph. This is because the record contains abrasive material. In the first few silent tracks this abrasion hones the steel needle to a profile that tracks the grooves properly. The needle continues to wear as it plays the record, so that by the end its diameter has increased to the point where the sharp edges may damage the grooves on subsequent plays.


Tungsten Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.chinatungsten.com
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