In the years before 1948, the record industry was dominated by the 78-rpm record. The acronym “RPM” stands for Revolutions Per Minute. 78’s were usually ten to twelve inches in diameter, and were often made of rubber, shellac, or vinyl. During this time, the faster a record revolved, the quicker it came to the end.
78-rpm records had evolved as a compromise between the desire for a longer playing time, the wear on the record from the needle, and sound quality. In the beginning, record speeds were never standardized—they ranged between 65 and 100 rpm most of the time—but by 1900, most records averaged at 78 rpm.
This changed in 1948, when Columbia Records launched the first 33 1/3-rpm vinyl record. It was more durable than shellac 78-rpm records, and it played for a longer duration. Not long afterward, RCA Victor—the company that had formed when RCA bought out Emile Berliner’s groundbreaking gramophone business—launched a 45-rpm record. The record was 7 inches in diameter, and could not be played on most existing turntables. RCA Victor also made a miniature record player, hoping that consumers would buy it along with their new records.
The two-year “War of the Speeds” occurred between 1948 and 1950, when competition between these two companies was fierce. The two technologies—33 1/3 and 45-rpm records—vied for market dominance during this time.
Eventually, the market settled and 33 1/3 records became the dominant technology for music albums. The 45-rpm discs, however, eventually established themselves as the format of choice for musical singles—cheaper discs with one song on each side. Consumers were used to singles, as most 78-rpm records had a similar duration.
Eventually, record player technology adapted to accommodate both speeds. Up until the 70’s, most record players came with three- and four-speed players, a combination cartridge to accommodate 78-rpm records, and a converter for 45’s.