[decal]

I had a record player way back when that had a 16 speed - never knew why it was on there.

[Vermont Lt]

Spoken language records were slooooow. No need for any dynamic range when some actor is droning on and on.

[HartleyMBaldwin]

It was so you could play 33s and 45s and make them sound funny.

[Dr. Sivana]

I had a record player way back when that had a 16 speed - never knew why it was on there.

Mostly spoken word. I saw a set of part of the Bivke at a used book store. Also, radio used that speed for recorded programs, but on very large discs.

Jeopardy was also mistaken on a “standard” speed. 78 was dominant, but there were old victrolas with variable speeds and records with different settings.

[Roadrunner383]

“..had a record player way back when that had a 16 speed”

Yep, early 60s we had a pretty nice Zenith console radio & record player, it also had the 16 speed setting. It had a 78 speed setting also. There was a flip down door, the turntable sitting back inside the console. 78 records wouldn’t fit through the opening to the turntable, inspite of the 78 speed setting.

[George from New England]

I heard 16 rpm was for transcription discs
Talking recordings

[Larry Lucido]

What was needed was one that played records backwards, so that you could make out the hidden messages. “Paul is dead”; “Smoke pot”; “Get a job.”

[ifinnegan]

“I had a record player way back when that had a 16 speed - never knew why it was on there.”

It was fun to play the records real slow.

And people could learn guitar parts easier playing the record slow.

But I assume there had been releases at 16 at one time.