From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!seismo!presby!burdvax!floyd Newsgroups: net.misc Title: Re: record bead Article-I.D.: burdvax.572 Posted: Thu Feb 17 00:06:12 1983 Received: Mon Feb 21 19:52:30 1983 References: eagle.777 The "bead" around the edge of a record disc is the added thickness around the outside (it just happens to be rounded). It's purpose is to protect the first few grooves (or instances of the one groove) from being damaged during pressing and packaging.