Will I damage my stylus playing cracked cylinders?

[iainp]

I'm just started out but already discovering how difficult it is to find decent 2 minute cylinders.

I bought 20 at an auction and half are unplayable, the other half are very low quality, and now I've just done it again! I bought these off ebay and as you can see they are in a fairly sorry state. To be fair, the buyer described them as such, but they are worse than I was expecting.

Again, half are unplayable, and as for the remainder, I'd say only about 5 give anything like a decent sound. Some have deep grooves in them and one was broken but had been (very badly) glued together (see photo). I played it for several revolutions without realising and the stylus head was bouncing around terribly.

Am I likely to have damaged the stylus, and if so should I replace it before playing other cylinders? Does playing generally low-quality/damaged cylinders affect the stylus? A related question: one of the cylinders broke completely when I tried to put it on to play. is it worth trying to glue it together to play or is that asking for trouble too? Thanks.
I've attempted to attach a photo but for some reason can't do so. Photo posted here:
iainpetrie.typepad.com/.a/6a00e3933950378834017ee59f93aa970d-pi
And here: iainpetrie.typepad.com/.a/6a00e3933950378834017d3e2ad31c970c-pi

[maroongem]

Hi Iain,

I notice some of the cylinders depicted are 4M Edison Amberols. These will not play on a 2M machine as the thread per inch is different 100 vs. 200) and the sapphire is narrower on a 4M stylus which will make the 2M stylus skip across the surface of the cylinder.
Obtaining cylinders on eBay can be a crap shoot when buying from a seller that doesn't normally offer them. You are better off buying from a seller that handles them on a regular basis and some will test them prior to putting them up for sale.
As far as damaging the stylus, it is possible but not likely, but a check with a loupe will put your mind at ease.
I have a list somewhere of sellers that I have bought from on eBay that sold cylinders on a regular basis and were exactly as described.
I wouldn't bother trying to glue them, especially the 4M Amberols as they more than likely chipped on the groove surface and playback will not be a pleasant experience!

Bill

[iainp]

Ah, I thought they were all 2M cylinders... that explains why half of them won't play. Now I look, I see the 4M clearly on the edge. Thanks, I was about to throw those away!