THE letter of mine, published in your issue of March 2, was already a bit on the long side perhaps.

If I had included information on my past large collection of classical gramophone records, it would have been even longer.

The march of technology is reflected in the progression from 78 rpm records (which were comparatively heavy) to long playing 33 rpm, which my collection mainly consisted of.

These records were quite expensive, costing £2 each time, at a time when money had a much greater purchasing power in general. Cheaper long playing records became available, at about £1 each.

Two 78 rpm records I liked were The Wasps by Vaughan Williams and the overture to The Mastersingers by Richard Wagner.

One of the first long players I bought was Beethoven’s Third Symphony, The Eroica, conducted by Klemperer, a performance distinguished by slow tempos.

Then audio tapes gradually took over from records, and much more up to date compact discs. The march of technology indeed.

One was able to buy long playing records cheaply in charity shops. I bought a batch from the Salvation Army Shop in Cornerswell Road, now disposed of.

Michael O'Neill

Railway Terrace

Penarth