Tu rn-Tabl es THE gramophone record must be the most ill-treated
item in the catalogue of collectable things. No stamp, book, picture or bird's egg ever received the philistine treatment accorded by most collectors to their discs. The victims are usually removed from their protec- tive sleeves immediately after purchase, and stacked, nude and defenceless, in scattered piles on table, shelf or floor. Small wonder that when they come to do their turn they emit, in addition to human or instru- mental noises, a passionate symphony of cracks, hisses, hums, sizzles and buzzes.
Collectors who would like to know how to look after their gramophone needles and records, and who are interested in the principles of high-fidelity sound reproduction and equipment, should read The Gramophone Handbook by Percy. Wilson. MA (Methuen, 15s.). This is a well-illustrated, first-class handbook, elementary enough for the enthusiastic amateur and technical enough for the budding expert. ROBIN DOUGLAS HOME
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