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>These were very easy to break. Dropping one could break it. These older recording were played at 78 RPMs, as opposed to 45 or 33 1/3 RPMs of its successors.
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>I have a small collection of 16rpms at home, is that prior to 78rpms?

No I don't think so. I seem to recall that speed, but I could be fantasizing. The faster speed was, I believe, required because of the recording technology at the time.