vintage record player question ?

Question

im new to record players and i was looking for a vintage one on ebay and there were somthings in the description that i didnt under stand such as it said the the record player plays 45s and 33 record albums i didnt understand if that meant records from that time period or what . thanks


here is the link of the recod player im looking at
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-General-Electric-portable-record-player-Turquoi_W0QQitemZ230155108112QQihZ013QQcategoryZ1442QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Answer 1

That's the size of the records that it plays. 33s are the longplay records which hold about 60 minutes of music - they are large in size. 45s were generally used when they just wanted to put a single or a few songs on the record - they are small in size.

Answer 2

Most records play at particular speeds. The two most common speeds are 45 rpm's and 331/3 rpms. 78 rpms is also common in very old records. Most 45's have only one song on each side. Most 33's have ten to 15 songs on both sides together. The record player you are looking at on ebay was not very expensive when it was new and will not produce sound of very good quality even if you have very good records. It is also possible that it will damage vintage records unless it has a very good needle and a properly balanced tone arm. Not likely in a player of this quality. You can still get very good record players because some audiophiles believe they are more accurate and produce the subtle sounds of music with higher fidelity than CDs.

Answer 3

The numbers refer to the revolutions per minute speed of the record. "45's" were 45 rpm records about six inches in diameter with a 1 1/2 inch hole in the center that required an adapter to play on a phonograph. 33 and 1/3 is the correct term for what you are calling 33. These were very large diameter..about 15 inches, I guess. They revolved at 33 and 1/3 revolutions per minute and could therefore contain more recorded material...therefore used for albums.

Answer 4

A 45 is a "single " small record with big hole.
A 33 is an "album" big record with small hole, usually several songs.
There are also some UK singles 45s with small holes.
(You can also purchase a piec that slides onto the centre spindal to play singles.)

A suggestion, You can also buy new record players, which look like old vintage ones.Try searching "phonograph" instead. They have some cool ones in a carrying case that are fun for parties!.
http://www.bestinhome.com/category-s/547.htm
I have the one on the far right and its pretty good.
Since you don't know much about record players a record needle on an old player might be damaged, which would ruin your records, and sound bad.If your not using it alot and are careful a new one will last you quite a while.
Have fun and enjoy!

http://www.bestinhome.com/category_s/493.htm

Answer 5

45 and 33's are the speed that a record spins at on the turntable(revolutions per minute, rpm's) Usually 45's would be those smaller looking records, that have just one song on each side. 33's would be more full length albums. Have fun!!
That record player is ancient, but, for ten bucks you might as well check it out. Hope the needle still works.

Answer 6

the records play at different speeds and they are different sizes. 33's are the regular size album records, and 45's are the little records that generally just have a single song on them. That's a cute vintage record player; but can you get replacement needles? If you just intend to display it and not actually play records, it doesn't matter.

Answer 7

45's are single play, small with a large whole. 33's are albums with several songs. The number is the speed of the record.

Answer 8

33 (&1/3) and 45 are playing speeds. 12" LPs (albums) play at 33 1/3 rmps, 7" records (singles) usually play at 45 rmps.

Check out the JVC linear tracking 'table on the bay. Garrard are good investments too.

Answer 9

33's are the big ones...(albums, many songs)
45's are the small ones with a BIG hole in the middle (two sided, two songs ONLY)...(they need an adapter)

33 is 33 RPM...45 is 45 RPM (the speed at which a record (vinyl) turns on the spindle.

Answer 10

the terms , 45, 33 and 78 referred to the speed these were played at!! the 45 was a small disk with one sone on each side and played at 45 revolutions per minute etc....78 were the oldist records,, large with one song on each side,,, 33's were the latest until the cassette tapes took over,, had 5,6, up to 9 songs per side,,,
Geez,, the one in the picture was a little unit sold for children's songs,,, not ver good sound quality etc,,, not good for anything except childrens lullabys etc