"Osmopoint" (aka "osmoium") tip needles ?

[Ron Rich]

Hi All,

Anyone know what an "Osmopoint" needle was made from ?  Was there any-much- difference in their life, as compared to both sapphire and  diamond tips ? Price wise, I think they were about dead center ??

Thanks, Ron Rich

[Hildegard]

Hi Ron,

I don't know what the tip was really made of other than Osmium the chemical element.

On a chemistry website I found this (translated) explanation:

It is a hard, brittle, blue-grey or blue-black transition metal and belongs to the platinum group of metals. Osmium has the highest density and the highest compressive modulus of all elements.
Due to its high price, osmium is technically only used when durability and hardness are decisive. 

And

Due to the high toxicity of the oxides, osmium is rarely used in its pure state. Hard osmium-containing alloys of the platinum metals are used in abrasive and wearing applications such as writing balls in ballpoint pens, phonographic scanning needles, shafts and studs in instrument construction and electrical contacts. 

So my guess is that only a thin layer was used - but do not know of course.

I found an original osmopoint needle in its original cardboard book. It states that the tip is welded to a needle of tempered steel. It was US$1.50 back then and good for up to 5,000 plays.

See attachment.

The trademark for Osmopoint was filed on Feb 16, 1950: books.google.de/books?id=UnEbAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA33&lpg=PA33&dq=phono+needle+osmopoint&source=bl&ots=Y3Ow5gCxK0&sig=ACfU3U0I5Jz1pnsA-6WSeNF3P0un9UbAfQ&hl=de&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi6lsWx_ojnAhUSIMUKHVJoAXUQ6AEwC3oECAgQAQ#v=snippet&q=seeburg&f=false

Hildegard

[Ron Rich]

Hi Hildegard,
Thank-you-- All this time I was thinking that "osmo" was some "markteer'" jargon, trying to sell snake oil -- Learn something new daily --It's good for one ! Ron

[Hildegard]

Hi Ron,

so how much could one buy else for US$ 1.50 back then?

Hildegard

[Ron Rich]

Hi Hildegard,
I don't know -- but I bought a candy bar today for $2.00. I have purchased that same candy bar for a nickel, when I was a kid--and it seems that it was at least twice as large back then ! --LOL-- Ron Rich

[Hildegard]

Ok, so that comparism would calculate it today to 1.50 x 40 = 60 US$.
Not a cheap needle and quite an investment for operators.

And yes, these bars always were minimum twice as large as today. :-)

Hildegard