|
Post by maroongem on Nov 28, 2007 11:12:57 GMT -5
Yes Bill-1970. Is that a problem? I guess the Major may have had some bad acid, and got it all wrong ;D Probably some bad chutney. ;D All I'm saying is why has one never come to light in any other reference book?
|
|
|
Post by maroongem on Nov 27, 2007 21:33:07 GMT -5
Aha! The plot thickens . . . ! I haven't had a chance to look up the article in my old APMs . . . I'll try to get to it tomorrow evening. Luke W. OK . . . just re-read the article in Vol. X, No. 1 (1991) APM. Varian Mortimer Harris was a Chicago chemist who actually preceded Thomas Lambert in producing a a molded celluloid cylinder in the United States. He partnered with an Edmund A. Balm to produce a flexible advertising cylinder that could be included as a premium in breakfast cereal. One (at least) of these cylinders has survived. Balm & Harris' firm disappears without a trace and Harris resurfaces as one of the three founding partners of the Lambert Co. After Lambert's bankruptcy in 1906, Harris continued to experiment at home trying to perfect a cylinder 1/3 the thickness of a Lambert(!) In the fall of 1909, Harris was contracted by the U.S. Phonograph Company of Cleveland to spearhead technological development of their recordings and to establish the record manufacturing plant. As I mentioned earlier, a label has been found between the layers of the rolled up cardboard tubes that make up a U-S Everlasting box that states "The Harris Everlasting Record" and manufactured by "The Cleveland Phonograph Record Co., Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A." Bill Klinger, the author of the article, speculates that perhaps no cylinders were ever shipped in these boxes. Luke W. Did you realize that the Everlasting/MW record was a sheet of celluloid that was bonded at the seam over the composition core? I've seen a few of them split and i'll be darned if I know how they bonded that seam. It must have been some kind of vulcanized process to make the surface smooth for the impression of the groove/recording. Bill
|
|
|
Post by maroongem on Nov 27, 2007 16:09:04 GMT -5
Hmmmmmmm. That book came out in 1970. I would still like to see even one pic of a pre Edison made diamond stylus for playing cylinders. As far as that pic being a doorknob shaped diamond is highly doubtful. But whatever...............
Bill
|
|
|
Post by maroongem on Nov 27, 2007 13:31:06 GMT -5
I don't know of any other company that put out a diamond stylus (other than Jewel, but these were for Edison) at that time for cylinder play. The Indestructible Record Company made a diamond stylus reproducer too. As this one on ebay is made to fit an edison carriage, I'd say this is actually a diamond stylus, unless it's been changed. Could you please supply some documentation on this. I'd be curious to see what it looks like. Bill
|
|
|
Post by maroongem on Nov 27, 2007 13:27:05 GMT -5
I think if you look at the enlargement of the stylus in the listing, you will see that it is a sapphire in the usual doorknob shape.
Bill
|
|
|
Post by maroongem on Nov 26, 2007 13:00:53 GMT -5
Link's not working. Ah, OK I got it cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220176864143&indexURL=1&photoDisplayType=2#ebayphotohostingLooks to be for an Albany Indestructible 2M probably for Columbia as they made their 2M and later 4M celluloid cylinders. The Lambert Indestructible Record of Chicago went bankrupt in 1906 and the patent was transferred to Albany who made celluloid cylinders from 1907-1922. Frugal Tom finally paid for a license to mfgr. celluloid cylinders in 1911 and thus the BA was born. Bill
|
|
|
Post by maroongem on Nov 26, 2007 10:53:57 GMT -5
Sorry for the confusion regarding the Diamond B, I was using it as an anology. I don't know of any other company that put out a diamond stylus (other than Jewel, but these were for Edison) at that time for cylinder play. As far as 6" mandrels, I think Columbia was the only American mfgr. that put out 6" (Twentieth Century) cylinders and they were wax and very short lived. Something like 130 some odd titles, I believe.
Bill
|
|
|
Post by maroongem on Nov 26, 2007 8:28:38 GMT -5
So, with a diamond stylus, it could only play celluloid cylinders, then . . . interesting! Luke W. It had a sapphire stylus, but like an H or other 4M sapphire stylus, it would play the 2M Everlasts or other 2M records as the 4M sapphire is narrower than the 2M and rides in the 2M groove effortlessly. Bill
|
|
|
Post by maroongem on Nov 25, 2007 12:42:27 GMT -5
How did you adjust the reproducer to switch from 2-min to 4-min? Did it have the double headshell? Luke W. It was a single head, set up much like an Edison Amberola X as it had a telescoping connector to the horn and the stylus played both 2 & 4 M much like an Edison Dia B would from what I can remember. I sold it over 20 yrs ago and don't recall it having a dual stylus. Bill
|
|
|
Post by maroongem on Nov 25, 2007 10:56:21 GMT -5
Bill -- Would you describe your Rex a bit more? Oak or mahogany? 4" or 6" mandrel? How many springs? How was the 2-4 min changeover accomplished on the feedscrew and on the reproducer? The history of the U-S Everlasting (Cleveland, Oh) and Everlasting Indestructible brands (Albany, NY) cylinders and their inventor, Varian Harris, is quite interesting. They are two separate companies with common patent roots. The U-S Everlastings have an almost tar-paper appearing core and are sometimes found as "Lakeside" (Montgomery Ward) brand. Albany Indestructibles have a metal ring inside the bore on the title end and are frequently found as "Oxford" (Sears). The Albany cylinders were produced until the early 1920's when a fire destroyed the factory. Some of the Albany boxes have labels pasted over earlier "Harris Indestructible" labels! Interesting that so many of the U-S machines had 6" mandrels . . . I wonder if they had planned or even produced a 6" cylinder? 6" at 4-min . . . hmmm . . . sounds like my love life! One more shot of the Peerless. Luke W. John, The cabinet was in oak and the mandrel was the usual 4" length. The changeover was employed by a push/pull knob on the left side of the gear cover. The US Everlasts I had mentioned were mfgd. by the same company that made the REX and have that composition core that you mentioned. Unfortunately, I owned this before the advent of digital cameras, but I know I have some regular pix of it somewhere and when found I'll scan them and post them. The REX I saw at the show in Wayne was tempting, but the price of $1,495.00 was a bit steep IMO. Bill
|
|
|
Post by maroongem on Nov 24, 2007 22:45:08 GMT -5
They also made the finest celluloid cylinders until Edison sued them into recievership. The were called US Everlasts and I find the surface unmatched for the time. I had a "REX" that played 2&4M cylinders on one adjustable head. I regret selling it now as I saw one recently at the Wayne show for $1,400.00 and it had been refinished!!!
Bill
|
|
|
Post by maroongem on Sept 27, 2007 16:37:29 GMT -5
Ok Luke, Good luck!
I don't how one can tell tell repros from the originals as I've matched up the one I have to one that I know is original. They were cast metal and after a few years look as groady as an original.
Bill
|
|
|
Post by maroongem on Sept 27, 2007 14:51:16 GMT -5
Luke, Which style 'Q' do you have? The 1st models like the one depicted below generally had a plain flat key. The 2nd & 3rd used the filagree style key and can be identified by the black lacquer base and the governor comes off the side plate rather than the base. I have a repro fancy/filagree key if you don't have any luck finding an original. BTW, ignore the dust. I fired the maid........... Bill My model 'QC'
|
|
|
Post by maroongem on Sept 27, 2007 9:16:35 GMT -5
Wyatt's was offering one a few yrs ago, but you would have to call and see if they are still available. They were made in GB and were of good quality.
Bill
Their number: 1(707)266-5013
|
|
|
Post by maroongem on Jul 25, 2007 23:13:38 GMT -5
John,
I would leave the cracks alone on the rear of the sound box. I really can't see them from the pix you took so they can't be that bad. I use plumber's putty to caulk up joints. It is easily rolled and doesn't dry out.
Bill
|
|