lacquer discs

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  13. lacquer discs
Scope note
Lacquer discs were the most common type of instantaneous recordings. These consisted of a coated substrate with grooves cut into the coating, allowing for playback. The format replaced wax matrices used for recording and mastering in the mid-1930s and was the dominant format for making original, or master, recordings before the advent of magnetic tape. Lacquer discs are often incorrectly referred to as acetate discs, or acetates, though they are composed of a nitrocellulose lacquer layer applied to an aluminum, glass, or steel base. The thin lacquer layer on new discs was soft enough to be inscribed with grooves by a cutting stylus and resilient enough to survive several playbacks and were used to record radio programs, field recordings, and other live events. Those made by radio networks and others for professional purposes were often 16 inches in diameter, while those recorded for personal purposes were more often 7 to 12 inches.
lacquer discs
Accepted term: 09-Sep-2024