Savoynetter David posted, in response to a question about glass records:
In the rec.antiques.radio+phono newsgroup, Jim Mueller said in 1998:
It sounds like [glass records are] "instantaneous" records. There were two kinds (AFAIK, I'm not an expert). The cheap ones had a paper core with lacquer coatings while the good ones had an aluminum core. They were used with home recording equipment to make records that could be played immediately, just like we use cassette tapes now. Audiodisc was one of the brands that made these.
Cutting a record requires a lot more torque than playing one so the turntables for this purpose had an off center drive pin to ensure that the disk didn't slip. This pin fit into one of the extra holes you mention. There's no magic to three holes, one is enough.
Some of the recorders cut in the conventional way, from the outside in. However, some did it the other way, starting at the center. Try both to find the one that works.
Since these were recordable records, they are soft and easily damaged. If you have any thought of preserving them, play them with a modern low tracking force player. Even then, their life will be a lot shorter than conventional records.
You can find these disks with all sorts of stuff on them. I have a pair that seem to be a voice letter someone sent home during WWII.
If you find one with no grooves, that means it hasn't been recorded yet. Also, during WWII, these disks were hard to get so some inventive souls found a way to record on used X-ray film!
I learn something new every day, I swear.
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