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Post by coyote on Jan 26, 2010 11:40:27 GMT -5
Although mostly for Triumph machines, Terry Baer was compiling serial number data for a while. I don't know if he'd have any input on the subject.
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Post by coyote on Jul 9, 2009 12:34:02 GMT -5
This is a copy as I was offshooting from the "girl thingy Cat Rag" sound file thread. The diamond disc of "girl thingy Cat Rag" arrived today. It's a clean copy that's visually in E condition, but it plays noisy all throughout, although it's loud and clear. Is the noise typical of etched label DDs from this early era, or were the noisy pressings limited to the World War I period? Rocky I've wondered the same thing. I'm going to copy this to a new thread if anyone is knowledgeable about particularly "noisy" etched label pressings. It's been documented that most of the 1917 ("B") pressings (letter and number below Edison's signature--NOT the matrix number) are particularly noisy, but are there other notably noisy matrix/pressing numbers? By the way, my copy of this DD plays well and I don't think it's noisy, although it has a few bad grooves (probably a former owner trying to play it with a steel needle). My matrix is 3853-C-55 for this side and while the pressing date is B1, I think it sounds good, at least not compared to WWI discs and other "B" pressings I have. Maybe I should upload a sound file as "noisy" regarding DDs can be pretty subjective. Also, I think the look of a DD can be deceptive--I have some pristine-looking paper label DDs in the 51000 series (in particular, 51658-Sleepy Time Gal and 51304-California, Here I Come) which "blast" or buzz and sound very harsh during certain sections/notes. I'm fairly sure this is the disc and not my reproducers, but don't have another copy of these to compare it to.
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Post by coyote on Jul 9, 2009 12:05:54 GMT -5
The diamond disc of "girl thingy Cat Rag" arrived today. It's a clean copy that's visually in E condition, but it plays noisy all throughout, although it's loud and clear. Is the noise typical of etched label DDs from this early era, or were the noisy pressings limited to the World War I period? Rocky I've wondered the same thing. As I'm veering off-topic, I'm going to copy this to a new DD thread if anyone is knowledgeable about particularly "noisy" etched label pressings.
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Post by coyote on Jun 30, 2009 11:46:38 GMT -5
Milan, OH is also the location of Don Gfell's shop (Sights & Sounds of Edson). The Gfells are masters at restoring wood horns and making custom ones.
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Post by coyote on Jun 27, 2009 20:44:26 GMT -5
Thanks, John, that's what I was looking for. Thanks for the Shellophone video as well!
Bill
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Post by coyote on Jun 27, 2009 14:54:22 GMT -5
My apologies if this issue was addressed in the past, but I'm curious as to the timeline of DD labels, and if they can be applied to the catalog numbers. I presume the earliest DDs were the pressed "shield" labels, of which some were re-issued on the better-sounding black-on-white paper labels (including the "Re-Creation" label), but when were the (brief?) white lettering on black labels used? When were the later etched labels ("EDISON at the top, with no likeness of Edison) used? Thanks for your help or for pointing me in the right direction!
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Post by coyote on Jun 22, 2009 0:05:12 GMT -5
My apologies for posting on multiple boards--ignore if you have seen this already. If anyone has seconds or parts they are willing to sell, please e-mail me with your desired selling price at pghcoyote at aol.com. Thank you. WANTED:
-Edisonic reproducer, please state condition (restoration needed is OK) Any reasonable playable condition copy (on shellac, naturally) of "If I Had You" by: --Irving Aaronson and his Commanders --"Whispering" Jack Smith (If I Had You Now) --Al Bowlly
A bunch of Diamond Discs, mostly 50000 and 51000 series, a couple 80000-82000s, and a few 52000s. If you have DDs that you want to sell, please contact me and I'll send a list of titles I'm in search of. (In Search Of...sounds like Leonard Nimoy)
Thanks to anyone who would like to make a few bucks!
--Bill
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Post by coyote on Jun 18, 2009 11:25:44 GMT -5
Regarding the previous discussions of the Duncan stop on other boards (?) I seem to remember that someone sells reproduction battery housings that you "hide" modern batteries in for that "authentic" look. Sorry I don't remember the link...
That's a great find; usually you don't find a machine originally fitted with the Duncan stop with the correct reproducer (and wire) with it, or the insulation still intact around the limit loop. Others are sure to respond--I recall someone had a lot of experience with making a Duncan stop work correctly, as they can be finicky.
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Post by coyote on Mar 22, 2009 13:05:34 GMT -5
Thanks for the warning about the "transition" dance reproducers. The one with the "regular" linkage has SN 2205, and the "wire-wrapped" linkage was on SN 6383. I didn't look at it too closely at the time as the linkage was pulled out of the diaphragm, but when I went to remove it from the stylus bar hook, some of the wire wrapping was stuck to it, and "unraveled" from the linkage. It's the strangest thing I've ever seen. It reminds me of the springs around the linkage in the C reproducers, just much, much finer and wrapped around the silk linkage. Sort of like a ballpoint pen spring, but finer.
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Post by coyote on Mar 21, 2009 23:47:36 GMT -5
I'd like to know what experts would do with a Dance. I'm no expert, but I have two that I bought just to fiddle around with. It appears from the photo that the rear pivot screw head that holds the weight broke off. How THAT could happen is beyond me. That's an easy repair with another pivot screw. The problem for a "correct" restore is the diaphragm issues--the linkage and the spring on the other side of it. I tried various ways to re-attach a linkage to a Dance diaphragm or remove the button and transfer it, hook and all, to another diaphragm, but nothing worked well and it was all very fiddly work. I'm very curious to know what George Vollema or anyone who restores reproducers professionally would have to say about repairing the Dance diaphragm.
Just good timing with the quick reply...I happened to be posting my own reproducer question (Thanks, G'Shane!).
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Post by coyote on Mar 21, 2009 23:34:35 GMT -5
I've seen two, one appeared to just have the usual DD linkage, and the other one was wire-WRAPPED...almost like a tiny spring wrapped around the linkage. Very odd.
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Post by coyote on Mar 21, 2009 23:25:41 GMT -5
Any reproducer can be restored with the right parts and patience, right? Just my opinion, but I think the Dance repros are a royal PITA to restore, due to the "top" spring where the three-screwed flange is. Usually the stylus link has pulled out of the diaphragm, and since the link seems to be crimped directly into a metal piece in the "ivory" button, it's not feasible to use the original diaphragm.
The original button on the diaphragm has a hook for the "top" spring, so unless you want to forgo using that top spring, you'd have to attach some sort of hook to a new diaphragm. This Dance might have more issues than just the linkage, but if you want any spare parts, I have a Dance that I scavanged the stylus from, and don't plan to restore. It also had the "pulled out linkage" problem.
Repairing any damage to the rear pivot where the weight has come off of this one shouldn't be too bad, as unlike other DD reproducers, as you can actually get to it without the connecting tube being in the way when you remove the flange screws and top part of the reproducer.
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Post by coyote on Mar 21, 2009 22:47:23 GMT -5
I've taken apart a ton of DD reproducers and a few dance reproducers, but this was my first Edisonic. The original gaskets look almost like they were cork, but have the paper liners and were as brittle as original "rubber" gaskets, but they looked different, maybe rubberized cloth? Did Edison use different gaskets in the Edisonic reproducers, or are these just so dried up they LOOK like cork?
Btw, it sounded great even with these gaskets, although it needed a new stylus as the old one was leaving marks during the "dead wax" test. I swapped a Dance stylus as I didn't feel like soldering on a new hook for the spring.
Also along these lines, adding to the question of the best diaphragm, after comparing original and Bogantz diaphragms in a number of DD repros, I have to say I much prefer the originals. My apologies to Greg.
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Post by coyote on Mar 21, 2009 1:04:05 GMT -5
Sorry to hear it wasn't what was expected, Rocky. I'm surprised the seller wants you to ship it back, considering it wasn't a high-value item. I see the seller is in my county; I swear it's not me! I actually had two good eBay experiences when something similar happened to me. One was a 2-min cylinder rated "excellent" by a seller I've done business with quite a few times, and found his descriptions to be accurate. It had some worn grooves that "blast" and a skip in it. He refunded my money without my returning the cylinder. The other was for a large lot of mostly 2-min cylinders from a seller who later said he was "totally unfamiliar" with cylinders. All of the 2-mins were awfully moldy junk. The seller refunded a large portion of what I paid. I wasn't looking for refunds, just to express my displeasure. There ARE decent people selling on eBay.
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Post by coyote on Mar 19, 2009 23:26:35 GMT -5
$150 to $215 US, postage included. They're not cheap, but the market for them is small.
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