Specification

42 - audio-technica phono cartridges guide - 2019/20
“Play your SP records as many times as you want!”
As long as you use a modern dedicated SP cartridge, you can play them
again and again with very minor alteration of the record,
as the tracking force of a modern phono cartridge is only 2 to 5 grams.
As opposed to the tracking force of over 50 grams that was applied
by an acoustic Gramophone using needles, when the extra weight
could potentially damage the record.
Why 78, Why Shellac, Why SP?
Those records are black, heavy, easily breakable and were the main music and audio media from 1900 to 1960.
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78 is one way to name them in the sense that the rotational speed is in general 78rpm (rotations per minute).
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Shellac is another way to name them because there were made among other components out of Shellac resin.
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SP is another way to name them, it is the abbreviation of Standard Play, Standard Play as opposed Long Play (LP)
who started to replace SP records from 1955.
Playing 78rpm Shellac SP Records