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Post by treasurecat on Jul 28, 2009 15:17:16 GMT -5
Hello,
I just restored an Ediphone Transcribing Machine made around 1926. Will I be able play and listen to wax amberol cylinders on it? If not can any modifications be done that would enable me to listen to wax amberol cylinders. Any help would be appreciated. I'm new to this. Thank you.
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Post by maroongem on Jul 28, 2009 16:01:57 GMT -5
Your Ediphone was meant to play & record special 6" cylinders that were made for this particular machine. The cylinders were more robust than the 4M wax cylinders I believe you are referring to and I think would shatter when you released the button on the end to expand the ribs to hold the cylinder, not to mention the Ediphone had a much slower speed than the 160 rpm of standard Edison cylinders for the purpose of longer recording time. The Ediphone I own has no speed adjustment so I can't play even a BA properly and they really don't fit well.
I've seen a lot of Ediphone cylinders offered on eBay and they seem to go around $9.00 or so.
Bill
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Post by phonogfp on Jul 28, 2009 16:39:26 GMT -5
Bill's right on all counts. In addition, I believe all Ediphones play/record at 150 threads per inch, while Blue Amberols and wax Amberols are grooved at 200 tpi.
I'm afraid it's not a good match, but as Bill suggests, you can buy Ediphone cylinders and record whatever you wish on them. Good luck!
George P.
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Post by treasurecat on Jul 29, 2009 15:41:57 GMT -5
Thanks Bill and George. I will look around e-bay for Dictaphone cylinders. The Ediophone I have is a little different. Instead of having a metal cable that connects to a speaking or listening devise it has a rubber tube that connects to a set of headphones. It also has a speed adjustment. When the headphones are lifted off the cradle the machine starts tracking the cylinder from right to left. I have seen pictures of newer machines that look like mine and they are described as a transcribing machine. So I'm guessing that I can only listen to cylinders on this model? If I can record on this devise is there a switch that reverses the direction of the cylinder? I'm guessing that's how I would record. Any help will be appreciated. Is there anything on the web that can provide me with a picture of a complete model or a demonstration on how to use the Ediphone? Thanks again
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Post by maroongem on Jul 29, 2009 16:17:04 GMT -5
If I recall, there were three basic types of Ediphone products used in offices, one could record and play back the cylinder, one was for reproduction only and used by a secretary to listen to the cylinder and type out what was on it and the third was used only for shaving the cylinder for re-use. These three machines I mention were a bit later than yours, though. It is possible that your machine was only capable of reproduction and used by the secretary for transcribing.
Can you possibly supply a picture of your machine?
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Post by saxymojo on Jul 29, 2009 20:17:33 GMT -5
Hi This is a picture of my Dictaphone set. The bosses machine is on the left, shaver in the middle and the secretary's machine on the right. I am working on the shaver a the moment, this accounts for the absence of the on/off switch.  Regards Marcel |
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Post by matty on Jul 29, 2009 22:59:48 GMT -5
As your Ediphone has headphones, I'm guessing it's the secretary model. If it's capable of both recording & playback, it will have a lever above the reproducer (shown in the picture with a red knob) which will be marked "Hear", "Stop" & "Talk"- unless it's a very early model which required the reproducer & recorder to be changed as on domestic phonographs.  |
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Post by treasurecat on Aug 1, 2009 13:28:05 GMT -5
I attempted to insert an image, but was unsucessful.  The ediphone I have is an older secretary model. Thanks for your help. |
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