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Post by maxeight on Feb 22, 2012 19:03:15 GMT -5
Greetings, all! I'm new to the phonograph community; I've wanted one of these machines since I was about eight years old, and finally found the money (thanks in part to some student loans, haha) to purchase an Edison Standard Phonograph with a Model C reproducer. It's a wonderful machine, looks good, and sounds good - when it decides to work, that is. It seems the mechanism is a bit tired, and I've looked around online and locally to find a community that can help me repair, maintain, and eventually expand my collection of five cylinders and a single player.  Pardon the clutter, my house is lived-in. The horn is a reproduction for now; I hope to be able to get my hands on an original at some point, but priorities first of course The mechanism is smooth and goes for quite a long time on a full wind - until I place a record on the mandrel. With the added weight of the horn, it slows down and stops in less than ten seconds. As far as I know, these machines need leather belts with some play; mine it seems has a tight rubber band, which may be part of the problem. And there's a strange grinding sound from the feed screw, even after checking its threads and giving it some clock oil. As I said, I'm new to this whole hobby. I know plenty about the history of the machines, but now that I have one of my own to play around with, the mechanics are foreign to me. Any help would be appreciated, I'll provide as much information as I can! I look forward to becoming involved with you society of collectors  |
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Post by martinola on Feb 23, 2012 12:54:17 GMT -5
Hi maxeight.
Congratulations on being the new owner of one of Edison's most popular phonographs: the Standard Model B! They are real workhorses, but after 100 years or so sometimes need a little help. You'll want to eliminate any binding that you can. (ie: a dab of oil on the straight edge, well oiled reproducer carriage guide rod, bearings, etc.) I suppose if the belt were very tight, it would result in binding. Try oiling the machine, slip off the belt and give the mandrel a good spin. The top works should turn several times before it stops. Very often loss of power is a result of dirt and hardened grease in the gears and bearings. Once that all is cleaned and re-lubed you should have sufficient power to play 2 cylinders on a full wind. Good luck!
-Martin
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Post by maxeight on Mar 1, 2012 11:03:15 GMT -5
Thanks for the advice I managed to tinker with the works and oil some of the parts up. It works! - But only on the second floor of my house, for whatever reason. Maybe it's haunted. Whatever the case, it sounds excellent. |
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Post by martinola on Mar 6, 2012 17:20:17 GMT -5
Glad to hear that it's working. One thing that may be affecting the playback on the first floor is the need for the machine to be completely level. I live in an older house where some parts of my floor aren't level which will cause things to bind up if I have the feedscrew trying to push the carriage uphill.  Have fun with your machine! -Martin |
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Post by peterhopkins on Mar 25, 2012 10:45:12 GMT -5
Hi all: I could use your expertise with a project I'm in the middle of. I am the historian for Crane & Co., papermakers since 1770. I am researching Crane customers and their influence on American History, and Thomas Edison was a customer for quite some time. I have heard that some Edison horns were made of "linenoid," a strong linen paper concoction made by the Crane Brothers in Westfield, Mass. Any information on this subject is most welcome. You can email me directly at peter.hopkins@comcast.net Peter Hopkins cranesbond.com |
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Post by nefaurora on Mar 25, 2012 17:29:09 GMT -5
Hmmm, Perhaps Edison simply expeimented with linenoid. Most Edison Phonograph horns are made of metal, except Music Master Horns which are Metal and Wood on the higher priced machines. The Amberola 1A actually had a leather horn. It's possible that later Edison products after 1928 such as Radio Products had this linenoid product. You may want to check around that timeframe. You can contact George Vollema at www.victroladoctor.com/ or better yet contact someone who actual makes Edison Wood horns, Don Gfell. If anyone knows about Edison horns, It's Don. He can be reached at his e-mail address: edisonman1@aol.com Don is really your best bet, but George may also provide some insight. Tony K. |
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Post by nefaurora on Mar 25, 2012 17:30:41 GMT -5
PS: If they give you the info that you seek, Please come back here and post that you got what you needed.
Thanks,
Tony K.
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Post by phonogfp on Mar 25, 2012 19:12:05 GMT -5
Peter,
The "Linenoid" horns manufactured by Crane Brothers were advertised in 1905 - 1907 in The Talking Machine World, a trade journal. Edison Phonographs were not supplied from the factory with Linenoid horns, but they were sometimes purchased by the talking machine owners as an aftermarket item. A 1905 ad claimed 27 styles of Linenoid horns, from 15 to 56 inches long.
Do you have invoices showing purchases of Linenoid horns made by Edison; either to the National Phonograph Company or the Edison Phonograph Works? I'd be most interested to learn of such activity.
If such invoices exist, and are dated between 1909-1914, it might be possible that the reinforced jute horns (they were not made of leather) used in the Amberola 1A and 1B were either manufactured by Crane, or the material was supplied to Edison by by the firm. In any event, it would be interesting to learn of direct business relations between the Edison enterprises and Crane.
George P.
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Post by maroongem on Mar 26, 2012 16:26:56 GMT -5
Peter,
I have two Linenoid horns, one is on an early Victor VI and is painted a mahogany color to match the cabinet of the machine. The bell is larger than the standard spear-tip that is often found on these and sounds great!
The other is for a cylinder machine and is fairly large. I haven't found a permanent home for that one yet but have had it on an Edison HOME to try it out and was pleased with the sound.
I've always been meaning to get out to Dalton, Mass. to see if I could find out more about these horns but never did.
Bill
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Post by nefaurora on Mar 26, 2012 17:49:10 GMT -5
Interesting.. I am not familar with these Lineoid horns.. Got a pic? Thanks for the correction on the Amerola 1a horn. I always though that it was made of leather! Jute is a type of felt with a type of paper backing.. No??
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Post by phonogfp on Mar 27, 2012 11:12:36 GMT -5
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JuteAlthough a reliable source claims the Amberola 1A/1B horns were made from jute fiber, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that it was flax fiber. I hope Peter can throw some light on this! George P.
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Have fun with your machine!
