Ever wonder why old phonographs had a 16 3/4 speed setting?

[squatting dog]

On October 12th 1955
The Chrysler Corporation introduced high fidelity record players for their 1956 line-up of cars. The unit measured about four inches high and less than a foot wide and mounted under the instrument panel. The seven-inch discs spun at 16 2/3 rpm and required almost three times the number of grooves per inch as an LP. A set of 35 classical recordings were available that provided between 45 and 60 minutes of uninterrupted music. The players would be discontinued in 1961.

 

[Capt Lightning]

I do remember record players having a 16 2/3 rpm speed, but I never saw a 16 rpm record. I have read that these were mainly intended for speech when high quality was not needed. The first record payer I saw for cars used 45 rpm singles.

 

[hollydolly]

I do remember record players having a 16 2/3 rpm speed, but I never saw a 16 rpm record. I have read that these were mainly intended for speech when high quality was not needed. The first record payer I saw for cars used 45 rpm singles.

My goodness..you're all soooo old...

 

[squatting dog]

I do remember record players having a 16 2/3 rpm speed, but I never saw a 16 rpm record. I have read that these were mainly intended for speech when high quality was not needed. The first record payer I saw for cars used 45 rpm singles.

Some of the first 16 2/3rds available were produced by Columbia, and they offered many popular tracks. These tracks included work by Percy Faith, Cole Porter, and more. These were the hits of the time, and they were meant to be an inducement to make more people want to invest in this new technology.
Back in high school, I had an RCA record player in my 55 chevy. Played 45's, but the problem was leaving the records in the car. Even stored in that little box, the records would warp something terrible.

 

[JustBonee]

WOW! ... I had that same exact box for my 45's in high school ... for my home record player.

Thanks for the memories!

 

[hollydolly]

Some of the first 16 2/3rds available were produced by Columbia, and they offered many popular tracks. These tracks included work by Percy Faith, Cole Porter, and more. These were the hits of the time, and they were meant to be an inducement to make more people want to invest in this new technology.
Back in high school, I had an RCA record player in my 55 chevy. Played 45's, but the problem was leaving the records in the car. Even stored in that little box, the records would warp something terrible.


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believe it or not, I have that same box but in red, it's a kind of vinyl/plastic covering . I've had it since I was 16 which is more than 50 years now.. and I still have all the original 45's in it as well... all worn flat from playing so often, but they're still up there in the attic, and the case is pretty much unmarked

ETA next time I'm up there I'll photograph it ...