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What's the deal with Microgrove LPs?

I recently raided my girlfriend's elderly aunt's record collection and came away with a few 7" records labeled: "CBS Masterworks." They're from the 1950's and say they are
"microgrove" LP's, but nowhere does it say at what speed they play.
I can't tell if they're 45 or 33 1/3 or something else.
Has anyone heard of these and is there any issue with respect to today's needles?
The grooves do look very close together.
ebuzz
mattmiller's avatar
mattmiller
1,180 posts
 
These sound like 78's to me ..are they real thick?
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,424 posts
 
I have 7" and 10" LPs and they are 33rpm. Yours are CBS/Columbia and are likely to be, as well. 45rpm was RCA's thing.
ghosthouse's avatar
ghosthouse
3,718 posts
 
Is that "Microgroove" or really single 'O' "Microgrove"?
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
Miicrogroove was the buzz word as opposed to the 'old' style 78's.
So "Microgroove only means they are NOT 78's.
They may play at 45 or 33. (IMO most likely at 33)
They may have been freebies given away with some other music...
casey33
260 posts
 
Microgroove is a term from the 50s.The first records after the 78 were 10" to fit the shelving which already existed for the 78.The 78 has a wider groove.The new groove was narrower therefore called microgroove.This is the same size groove used today,so play on.On some 50s-60s turntables you had a flipover cartridge with a 78 stylus on one side and a LP (microgroove) stylus on the other side.
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