Fibre needles were popular with enthusiasts in the 1920s and 30s because they produced less surface noise and virtually no wear to the record surface when playing. There were two main types: the "Thorn" needles that were of round section like standard needles, these were made from hardened thornwood and "Bamboo" needles with as triangular cross-section, cut from bamboo cane. The latter ones could only be used if the sound box had a suitable triangular section needle hole (Although adapters were available to convert any sound-box). Nowadays, fibre needles are hard to find and are usually unused old stock. However it can be interesting to experiment with wooden needles. One novel feature is that each type can be re-pointed and used several times (up to ten times it is said!).
Bamboo needles are the easiest to find nowadays and these can be re-pointed using a craft knife or one of the patent cutters that were available from gramophone suppliers of the time.
Pictured are: An HMV cutter. £45
A Columbia cutter. £45
A Scissors type cutter £35
