Semi-classical and instrumental music was pressed on blue vinyl with a blue label. Red vinyl was for classical records, while children's recordings were yellow. Popular tunes were released on black vinyl.

As a clever bit of marketing, RCA used different colored vinyl for different genres of music. It too was made of vinyl, but had a short play time of about four minutes. A year later, RCA responded with the 7-inch 45 RPM record. It played for about 20 minutes per side and was made of vinyl, a much quieter medium than the shellac used in 78s.

In 1948, Columbia unveiled the 33 1/3 RPM long playing record. Arch rivals RCA Victor and Columbia Records were hard at work on a replacement for 78s, and their products went in opposite directions. They were easily broken, had a horrific level of surface noise, and a short recording time. They changed very little through the 1940s. Ten-inch 78 RPM discs came along in the 1920s, replacing Edison wax cylinders as the new recording medium. As the economy raced to meet the pent-up demand for consumer goods, records were one of countless items overdue for a makeover. The invention of the 7-inch single came out of the post-war economic boom. This installment of Found in the Attic looks at a 1950 RCA Victor 45-J-2, one of the first phonographs to play this new media. Of course, there could not have been 45s without something to play them on. It wasn't long though, until it became the mainstay of Top 40 music. The difference is that the cart machine was designed for radio from day one, while the 7-inch record began as a consumer medium. The point was made that the fast-paced Top-40 format would not have been possible without this device. Vintage Audio: RCA Victor 45-J-2 TurntableĪn earlier installment of Found in the Attic examined the ATC-Collins P-190, the first commercially produced cart machine.

Rca 45 players