The Secret Society of Lathe Trolls

Self-lather · Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Posts: 49 Location: Atlanta, Ga

Hi, I'm just sort of getting into record cutting, and thought I might get my feet wet by experimenting with an old Recordette or Soundscriber. These seem to be within my budget..

Anyways, I'm looking to buy a Recordette or Soundscriber. Preferably a Soundscriber. If anyone has any leads, I would appreciate it! Thanks.

-Thomas

grooveguy · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 45

Well, let me tell you, cutting real records and embossing with a dictating machine is 'apples and oranges.' While quite decent musical results can be obtained with some of the old dictating machines, performance is probably not what you would expect, and you would be getting your feet wet in the wrong medium. Better if you can get an old Recordio or other 'home' record-cutter using the General Industries mechanism. Now, THAT is real sound recording, not, "Take a letter, Miss Smith!"

Self-lather · Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Posts: 49 Location: Atlanta, Ga

Hey Grooveguy, thanks for the advice. I ended up getting two different Recordios off of Ebay, which I can't wait to start playing with. One of them should be arriving today in the mail. If all goes well, I might look into getting a Presto cutter, which I recently heard some cuts created with one, and it sounded really good!

I'm glad after reading this that I didn't end up winning the Soundscriber!

-Thomas

grooveguy · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 45

Good for you, Thomas, you are off to a good start. I began my disc-cutting career at the age of 10 with my parents' "home record-maker," a General Industries deck (probably like your Recordio) packaged with a radio and PA system by Motorola. I still have discs that my parents and/or I cut 50+ years ago, making them far better for archiving than tape! A few years ago I, too, salvaged the decks from a couple of Recordios and hope to make a "CD cutter" from one of them.

I've also purchased a few Soundscribers off eBay but have not been able to do much with them. They are packaged so tightly that it's very difficult to do any modifications.

Best of luck, and keep us all posted on your progress!

cartridge-repair · Joined: 11 Aug 2007 Posts: 12 Location: smithville, wv

I have a few Soundscribers for sale. Gib
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West-Tech provides service and parts for record cutters and phonos for the hobbyist, adventurer and enthusiast. Thanks for your patronage. Gib

PHANTOM · Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 12:45 pm Post subject: MY PRESTO K-8

FIRST $275.00 TAKES IT

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PHANTOM

Self-lather · Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Posts: 49 Location: Atlanta, Ga

Thanks everyone for the leads. I found a Recordette on ebay that I'm currently playing with.

-Thomas