To prevent irreversible damage to your beloved 78rpm records needle manufacturers recommend the needle should be changed after playing each side since wear to the point would damage a shellac record. So as you can imagine for an avid music listenener you would use 10's if not 100's in a short space of time. Luckily the manufacturers thought of this and produced packs, in this case of 200 housed in small tins. Designed for mechanical and wind-up gramophone players and unsuitable for modern vinyl made records, the needles were primarily made from brass or steel. The differences in softness had an effect on the loudness, thus a medium softness produced a medium tone. Each manufacturer made their own brands and in all varieties. This particular item was produced under the brand Songster, illustrated with a singing bird and a very art-deco sun burst. For it's age there is slight surface wear and much of the gilding has rubbed away from decades of being handled. One small patch of rust and a single small dent on the list. Inside there is a number of silver coloured needles most I suspect remain unused along with the paper lining. A great item for a collector of gramaphone needle tins, for someone who requires needles for their vintage gramophone or as part of a vintage display.

Date: c.1930's
Maker: J. Stead & Co
Made in England

Dimensions: 4.7cm x 3.5cm x 1cm