Yepper..."pulverized slate" (aka rottenstone) would be more accurate. Of course it is also possible that decomposed limestone (which is where rottenstone derives its name because it stinks) was used. Both are technically diatomaceous earth, so the seller could have also said that the records were made of dirt...sort of...LOL... I have to admit that hearing a record described as [merely] slate makes me envision Fred Flintstone firing up his Victrola-Rex, hefting a thick stone disc on a turn table and then slamming the nose of a pterodactyl down to play a song... -----Original Message----- From: phono-l-bounces at oldcrank.org [mailto:phono-l-bounces at oldcrank.org] On Behalf Of Graham Newton Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2008 3:24 PM To: phono-l at oldcrank.org Subject: [Phono-L] Re: Amusing Craiglist Ad "Michael Graziano" <mgraziano1 at o-lite.com> said... >> Victrola Academy with needles and slate records. Excellent working condition >> Moving sale. $350.00 or OBO. 512-819-0661/512-677-6039. > Gotta love those slate records. Actually, I don't see anything amusing about it... the description is accurate. Many of the old 78 rpm discs used ground slate as the principle component of the pressing compound, held together by shellac! The reason was to grind the needle to the groove shape in the first few revolutions... it looked like a chisel afterwards. This is why you were NEVER to remove a used needle and re-install it again to play other records, since doing so would destroy the next disc! ... Graham Newton -- Audio Restoration by Graham Newton, http://www.audio-restoration.com World class professional services applied to tape or phonograph records for consumers and re-releases, featuring CEDAR's CAMBRIDGE processes. _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.22.10/1366 - Release Date: 4/8/2008 5:03 PM