The Secret Society of Lathe Trolls

blacknwhite · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 50

Help - Question: I'm new to the board, looks like fun, hobbyist interested in DIY cutterhead building - Seeking a record-cutting FAQ relavent to this forum - is there one? Can someone point me to it?

I clicked the "FAQ" link at top of page but it's relavent to use of a forum (i.e. how to post messages).

I've read probably all the same books everyone else has read - how records are made, all the YouTube videos of the mastering / plating / stamping process, Oliver Read's "From Tinfoil to Stereo", Graham Newton's well-written online articles on advice of how to cut best possible masters, etc.

Seeking a FAQ possibly w/ answers to questions I assume people probably ask a lot here, that I would ask also, such as:

1. Has anyone ever compiled a list of all the different cutter head makes & models from 30s-80s and their frequency responses, so a hobbyist knows if / how much they want to buy one when they hear of an "RCA 1234" for sale? Closest I've seen is Flo's Cutterhead PAge which is awesome, and does list makes/models, but only a few pics & no dates or freq ranges.

2. List of suggested general reading for those interested in cutting, & where to find the books/pamphlets/ etc?

3. Does anyone have to offer, mechanical & electrical schematic drawings & explanations of the inner workings of *any* 1930s-or-later cutter heads, mono or stereo, home use or pro? Not the lathes but the insides of the cutter heads. Only thing I've seen is pics of rebuilding a stereo head on Aardvark which is cool but I can't tell from the pictures what's what, so its of limited help. I understand the general principle of it being an electromagnet, and of the 45-45 config of stereo cutters (seen the animation videos) but seeking details of cutter head constuction/configuration. Have more time than cash at the moment so can't "just go buy a good head". (Do have a coulple 1940s magnetic home cutter heads I'm peeking into)

4. Has anyone ever made a list of US patents related to record cutting? (some or all US patents are available for free online, apparently, from a site I just registered with, "free patents online", http://www.freepatentsonline.com/). I am searching the patents website, but it's very slow going, difficult to search, and also can be misleading since It's hard to tell if a patent is describing something ACTUALLY IN USE, or a hair-brained idea (of which I've seen both pertaining to another interest, jukebox record changers - some quite amusing). So far I've found all kinds of schematics of the inner workings of record PRESSES but nothing for cutter heads, other than a c. 1930 patent for the advance ball: http://www.freepatentsonline.com/1874101.pdf

5. What ballpark DO good cutter heads cost these days? (like a decent mono head, up to 15,000 Hz w/ good enough levels to cut 78 or RIAA microgroove)?

Thanks for any help,
- Bob

P.S. Here's my 1952 Rock-Ola, the only juke to have 120 selections on 78 rpm. Only made for one year. Biggest/heaviest juke made in US. Rare, but apparently equally under-appreciated, so it didn't break the bank! BB King never sounded better (my house is on a concrete slab)

harper · Joined: 25 Jun 2005 Posts: 30

All of these ideas are great, I THINK you may the person for this project. You would be a godsend to organize and preserve this information into a simple resource/archive.

Maybe everyone here should dig in the library/old hi-fi,broadcast magazines etc. lying around and scan them, and upload them,,,, I'll keep digging in some boxes and see if I can find more.

I unfortunately lost alot of my schematics, clippings and photocopies for cutter amps,heads, and manuals in a fire. If i would of uploaded them on the web i would still have them, for everyone.

blacknwhite · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 50