Many years ago I saw an expensive record player with the Usual speeds 78,45 & 33 but there was a 4th speed setting I think it was 16 rpm , What records were made for 16 rpm? (early Albums?)
Or was there another reason?
I think this equipment was dated late 50's early 60's

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"A number of recordings were pressed at 16 2/3 rpm (usually a 7-inch disc, visually identical to a 45 rpm single), but these were mostly used for radio transcription discs or narrated publications for the blind and visually impaired, and were never widely commercially available, although it was common to see turntables with a 16 rpm speed setting produced as late as the 1970s."

I remember a common phonograph mechanism of the 50s & 60s (in the days when I used to take everything apart to see how it worked) where speed was selected by means of a mechanical lever at the front left of the device. The lever had a few detent positions at '16', '33', '45' -- & sometimes 78. Moving this lever adjusted the motor shaft slightly along its axis. The shaft had multiple diameters, arranged stepwise, so choosing a speed amounted to bringing the correct motor diameter in contact with the rubber idler that moved the platter. A mechanical gem!

So I can confirm that the 16-2/3 speed was standard but uncommon -- I didn't know anybody who had such recordings. I never had audio tape recordings at 1-7/8 inches/second, either. Those low analog bandwidths are only good for speech (just ask the phone company!) but not music.