How to determine the condition of a DD.

[larryh]

Hi all,

Wondering since I am busy evaluating various reproducer diaphragms as well as a couple new machines how you arrive at a decision as to the condtion of a record. I know some will have bad grooves, some look a bit odd in the grooves, some of course have fatal flaws in the rims that might wreck a needle.

The hardest part for now is that elusive perfect diaphragm. The Edisonic I sent off to Steven for a new needle and a listen, seemed to play with near perfection. The one here now has a good needle and with the older diaphragm I put in it I get pretty good results on some records and then others that are poor. Of course after a lifetime of collecting I know the record condtion is crucical to overall sound. Trouble is with out a perfect reproducer your always left wondering or tinkering to see if its the record or not. I figure if I make a number of adjustments to the compression ring, or move the diaphragm about a bit and still hear the same kinds of problems in one record I didn't hear in a similar record it must be the record. I guess when I get the Edisonic back I can retry records I have set aside as faulty and see if they indeed or are arn't.

With a victor or brunswick reproducer it is a pretty cut and dried situation, it either plays well when in good adjustment or its the record. But somehow edisons have so many variaibles of sound that it makes reaching that point difficult, at least to me..

[Deleted]

www.engineeringexpert.net/problems1.htm


This page will explain, the common problems with DD's. The best disc too look for, are in the 55000 range. These have Paper lables. The black etched lable disc before WW 1 are good too.

[larryh]

Paul thanks, thats an interesting well thought out site for collectors. I agree that most of the time hearing is the only way to tell what your really getting, beyond the obivious damaged records. Sometimes though I will wonder if the distortion I hear is due to the record or the reproducer. I think as in other machines if some records play very clearly with similar music an another doesn't then you can pretty much accept the record is the problem.

[neophone]

Gents,

That's Phil's site, an excellent resource! I learned a lot from it.

Regards,
J.

[Deleted]

Thanks J, I forgot to add that, that was Phi's site. Most of the distrotion come from the records. Especially those made during the first World War. One of the mian ingredeints, in the manufature of DD's cam from Germany. However due to the war, Edsion had to find a replacement for the ingredient. Of which I can not think of at the moment. Have you had the diamond stylus replaced, and you reproducer rebuilt? If not, I suggest you have it done. I had mine replaced, and it has made a world of difference in the sound quality. I have gotten to the poijnt now, I know which discs to look for. As I said earlier, the discs with the white paper lables, are the best. Even the ones that were electricly recorded.

[neophone]

Paul,

Mine (H-19) has a good stylus and I think original diaphragms. My other (S-19) appears good but I do plan on having it rebuilt.

Regards,
J.

[Deleted]

That's a good idea J. It was Phil, who suggested that I have the reproducer from my S-19 rebuilt, and have the stylus replaced. He reccomended George Veloma at Great Lakes Antique Phonographs. Geroge did a fantasitc job. Put a new diamond stylus in,and now the discs sound, a lot clearer, then when I fisrt bought it.

It's nice to meet another S-19 owner.

[larryh]

Hey I am an S 19 owner also.. Must have been a popular machine?

[maroongem]

larryh said:

Hey I am an S 19 owner also.. Must have been a popular machine?

Larry,

It took the place of the earlier C-150 in 1919 and was one of his largest sellers in that price bracket.

Bill

[Deleted]

Mine, however, does not have casters, like it orignally had.

[steve]

The sound comes off the bottom of the DD groove, so you must look at the bottom of the groove. To do this you need a bright light, if the grooves appear brown or gray the condensite is gone and the sound will not be good. The shoulders may still be shiny on a worn out record. Sunlight is good and so is a very bright flash light.

Steve

[lukewarmwater]

paul1971 said:

Thanks J, I forgot to add that, that was Phi's site. Most of the distrotion come from the records. Especially those made during the first World War. One of the mian ingredeints, in the manufature of DD's cam from Germany. However due to the war, Edsion had to find a replacement for the ingredient. Of which I can not think of at the moment. Have you had the diamond stylus replaced, and you reproducer rebuilt? If not, I suggest you have it done. I had mine replaced, and it has made a world of difference in the sound quality. I have gotten to the poijnt now, I know which discs to look for. As I said earlier, the discs with the white paper lables, are the best. Even the ones that were electricly recorded.

Paul --
It was phenol, which was supplied to Edison by Bayer (of aspirin fame). When Germany was blockaded, and phenol became unavailable, Edison was in limited production within a couple of weeks and was supplying the Allies within a month. Unfortunately, Edison's phenol (the solvent for Condensite) was inferior to Bayer's, hence the increased surface noise. Luke W.