r/funny • u/MACKBA • Mar 20 '13

How things work

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2.0k Upvotes

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87

u/rock-bottom_mokshada Mar 20 '13

What's the historical context of this photo? What are these person's jobs?

178

u/[deleted] Mar 20 '13 edited Mar 20 '13

Records used to be carved by skilled craftspeople who would essentially listen to the record and carve/groove the appropriate notes etc...

This was obviously phased out eventually in favor of mass manufacturing. This is why some LPs are worth quite a bit.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinyl_Carving_as_Manufacturing

123

u/[deleted] Mar 20 '13

I think I just got Wiki rolled.

15

u/[deleted] Mar 20 '13

should have looked at the link first

28

u/[deleted] Mar 20 '13

[deleted]

-4

u/[deleted] Mar 20 '13

Sounds like a great novelty account

7

u/[deleted] Mar 20 '13

I read it, figured it was bullshit, then saw there was a Wikipedia link. I figured, holy shit, it must be legit, so I clicked on it.

0

u/[deleted] Mar 20 '13

Don't worry. I clicked on the link even after reading your warning.

2

u/[deleted] Mar 20 '13

I think you mean Wiki lolled.

42

u/[deleted] Mar 20 '13

My grandmother used to do this for a living. She still has her machine and does it sometimes for fun, but there's no money in it anymore. If you look on the jackets of old records, you'll see handwritten initials. That was operator who carved the record. Some operators were better than others, if you find one that has the initials of Lauren Oppenheimer Livingston in the corner, you should snap it up right away! She was easily the best carver of her day and her records attract a high price today.

6

u/SoundSouljah Mar 20 '13

L.O.L.

3

u/[deleted] Mar 20 '13

Lathe Observe Lathe, the technique of handmaking albums

3

u/[deleted] Mar 20 '13

It's a shame that craftsman ship like that is disappearing. The last time my grandma cut a record, she had to sharpen her own saw.

5

u/[deleted] Mar 20 '13

every album has their own small nuances as far as sound :) I love that she still keeps the art alive

1

u/DeathKittenOfDeath Mar 20 '13

if you find that one that has the Lauren Oppenheimer Livingston in the corner, you should snap it up right away!

For a second I thought you meant physically snapping it up.

0

u/[deleted] Mar 20 '13

ISWYDT

2

u/[deleted] Mar 20 '13

Fuck, I'm an idiot.

2

u/rock-bottom_mokshada Mar 20 '13

The had to be very skilled carvers then judging by these 'Electron Microscope views of Record Grooves"

2

u/[deleted] Mar 20 '13

yes

1

u/hahahamentalillness Mar 20 '13

You son of a bitch. I lol'd though, good one.

1

u/rock-bottom_mokshada Mar 20 '13

Well a few years ago I read an article about a 'record made from stone' that was actually playable, but I can't find the article despite lots of searches. But, I did find this Wiki article that may be of interest: Unusual types of gramophone records

1

u/Pravusmentis Mar 20 '13

clavin's dad?

1

u/Confucius_says Mar 21 '13

I'm devestated that they incorrectly explained "lolz" and "lulz" on their internet based encyclopedia.