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 no dents. Inside there is an assortment of 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