[Arran]

I've had one with the Columbia name (hope I'm right) on it for several years....in the box, and never could generate any interest in it. They're handsome, as the picture shows, but not an item that causes a stampede.

There's an amusing tale about Sarnoff being invited to a pre-showing of the Columbia system. Dr. Peter Goldmark was credited for the development of the microgroove LP disc.
After a demonstration of the discs, Goldmark offered manufacturing rights to the discs at no cost. Sarnoff graciously thanked him, and said that he'd give it thought.

Now understand, RCA's 45 system had been on the shelf since about 1942 at that time, because Sarnoff didn't want it to take sales from shellac discs. He returned to his office, got his entire staff together, and lambasted them to pieces for letting Columbia get the drop on them, when it was Sarnoff's doing that kept the 45 system on ice.

He ordered the 45 system put into production immediately. It was announced in January, 1949, and hardware was in the stores by the following April.

The 45 system was wonderful, for those who wanted single discs. The little changers are nice too, but the LP records sort of outlated the 45's.

Were the original 45s that RCA-Victor developed in fact microgroove records or were they like the failed 33-1/3 format that they came out with in the late 20s where they used steel needles? I have a book on the history of the phonograph put out by either Tab or Sams in the late 60s or early 70s and it implies that the 45 was basically a rip off of the 33 1/3 LP microgroove record other then the speed it used and the size of the hole, both deliberately designed with the idea of making them non compatable with other machines and to compel people to buy an RCA 45 rpm record player. Even before reading that I always thought that they were a stupid design with that 1'' spindle hole in the center, aside from juke boxes RCA was the only one who actually made players with that spindle, all the others used an adapter. They made the 45s this way for years after RCA quit making the 45 RPM only machines.
Regards
Arran