Dave Platt wrote:

Adrian Tuddenham wrote: "(If the surface is mud-cracked or there is red
powder on it, the disc will be in a dangerous condition and you need to
seek specialist help to avoid starting a disastrous fire.)"

😱 ??

Setting a record on fire just by playing it?

Yes, unlikely but possible.


[...]
On the other hand, if it's a true "acetate" disc (made with cellulose
acetate rather than cellulose nitrate)...

It won't be. Cellulose Acetate can only be embossed, not cut. It was
not used for direct-cut discs. (The manufacturers sometimes called
their nitrate discs "Acetates", but this was deliberately misleading
because of the bad reputation that nitrate had gained.)

As to playing the disc... the cat's meow might be to gain access to an
ELP laser turntable, which doesn't use a physical-contact stylus at
all. No wear... but not cheap nor common.

Not all that effective; it plays every bit of dirt the same as solid
groove wall, whereas a stylus will scrape the dirt away as it plays.

A stylus will also scrape the wall away if you get it wrong , so the
optical system has the potential to do less damage; but the cleaning
process needed before optical playback will probably do as much damage
as the stylus. Swings & roundabouts.

--
~ Adrian Tuddenham ~
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