We all know that the Grand Canyon was made by water running over rock. Anytime two physical objects contact, there is wear, or damage. That said, the reason I collect antique phonographs is because I like the sound for whatever psychological reason. While I will not play my Nordskog of Spikes Seven Pods of Pepper Orchestra on a Victrola, I have no problem playing almost everything else on some kind of antique phonograph. To be sure I always use a fresh needle and sometimes a fibre needle. I once played a Paul Whiteman record on a VV-IV as many times as I could to see if I could detect wear. I got sick of the record before I could hear an increase in surface noise. Victor had a wear test that in order to pass, a record had to be played 200 times without audible wear (would that Paramount had the same kind of standard). 20 times is more than I care to hear most records. I think we can play our records and enjoy them without pangs of conscience. When we are through with them they will, at best, be absorbed into archives where they will be played once, put onto digital media, and (the originals) never heard again! The digital copies however, with help from new copyright laws, may live again on MP3 players. In the mean time, I will play my Carusos (if I had a Zonophone I might make an exception), McCormacks, Original Indiana Fives and Bessie Smiths the way God intended, on a taking machine. Pardon my ramblings, I found this to be an interesting string of comments. Phil Stewart **************It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money & Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf00030000000001)