Bought an Edison cylinder Home Phonograph

[Deleted]

I bought, an Edsion Home Phonograph, with a model C, reporducer. Cirica 1908 for $682.00 today. It was orginally listed at $785.00, but the antique mall was kind enough to knock off $100.00. After askin the dealer for a discount. It plays very well, but it needed some oiling. Has a very large brass colored horn, and came with 6 Gold Moulded cylinders, only five of which play. However I had a Gould Moulded cylinder at home that works as well. It even came with a photo copy of the instructions on how to operate, and maintain the phonograph. The saphire stylus is in good shape, so it can play the cylinders clearly, and loudly. Unfortuneately, I had to stick a wadded piece of tissue paper into the horn, to mute the sound. I would like to find a smaller horn, one that would have orignially come with the phonograph, since the one I have is really large, and sitcks out quite aways. I'm not getting rid of the horn, but I would like something smaller. I am assumeing this one, only plays the 2 minute Gold Moulded cylinders, and not the 4 minute early amberols. Which is alright, I don't mind, because I had wanted to purchase a machine like this. I probbably won't play this one as much, but it's still a nice machine to own. Also, it know gives me an excuse to look for more Gold Moulded Cylinders.

After I pay this off, I would like to purchse a Blue Amberol Cylinder Phonograph. Most likely a floor model.

BTW: I did not know it plays the cylinders from left to right, I thought it was right to left. I did however know how to properly put a cylinder on. Wasn't hard to figure out.

[kevan]

That's GREAT Paul, Welcome to the world of Edison. Don't push the cylinders to hard or they will crack. The horns are quit large, thats why the internal horn became so popular I think. A 14 inch witches hat will fit I think. The one I'm buying in the spring is a Standard B with external horn that is near 3 feet long but I've made room for it already. Enjoy looking for 2 min cylinders and have fun, thats what it's all about.
Kevan

[Deleted]

Thanks Kevan, Actually I just found out mine, is actually an early "Home Phonograph" with a model "C" repoducer, and not a Model C phonograph. Mine has just the Edison name, and not the more recognizeable Edison Banner.

[gramophoneshane]

Good one Paul. Pleased to hear its now got a good home. The model B Home is a great machine in my opinion. You'll certainly notice a big difference in volume and sound quality, if you get a 14" witches hat for it. How long is the brass horn you got with the machine, and is it a front or back mounted crane. I've never seen a brass horn on an Edison before, but think it would look great. So what do you think of the 2Min cylinder music? It can become very addictive. Dont forget to remove the furry fabric from the boxes too, as that will help stop mould growth on them, and keep a look-out for 2 min celluloid cylinders as well (like "indestructable's" and "Everlasting's). They can also be played with the model C reproducer, and you dont have to worry about breakage or mould. If you know anyone with a camera phone, get them to take a pic and email it to you so you can post a picture of the machine.

[Deleted]

It looks really great. I actually have a digital camera, so I can take a picture of it. Unfortuenately, I still can not figure out how to post pictures on here, but, I can send them via email, and post on my web sites. (I don't have a phonograph web site, mine are synthesizer related). Anyway back to the phonograph, as for the length of the horn, I'm not sure of the measuerments, it is fairly large, and is front mounted. As for the cylinders, I only have two that work, unfortuneatly the rest are unplayable. The ones that are palyable are black with a black core. The ones that are unplayable are a blue grey color, with a white core. Is there a way to tell the difference between the black, and celluloid ones. Indestuctable, and Everlasting?

It's different listening to 2 min. music. Not bad in my oppinion. I am going be on the look out for more cylinders.

[neophone]

Paul,
Go to either Photobucket or Imageshack and join up, it's free, and upload you photos there. Then all you have to do is copy the link under the image you want to post here that starts and ends with: [img.] [/img.] (without the period, I put that in there so you can see them.) and the photos will be here. Like this: ;D I prefer Photobucket, but I see Imageshack has been revamped. It looks pretty good now.
Good Luck!

Regards,
J.

[gramophoneshane]

Paul, it sounds like the cylinders that are blue with a white core are "Blue Amberols", which are 4 minute cylinders, and wont play on a 2 min machine without the extra gear changer added to it. You may also have some Edison 4 min wax cylinders amoungst those you have. These have a flat surface where the record information is written, and have 4M before the record number-eg: 4M-123. Most collectors tend to steer clear of 4 min wax cylinders, because they dont sound anywhere near as good as the 2 min version, and they are extremely brittle. A change in temperature is enough to make them crack.
As for the other brand cylinders, The indestructables dont even have that name appear on the record, or at least none of the ones i have do. These are black, and have a metal band at the top and bottom of a cardboard core.These also have 4M before the record number on the 4 min versions, and both types of indestructables will have "Pat'd.July 29,'02." around the top with the record info. I dont have any 2 minute "everlasting's"(Im not even sure 100% that they made a 2 min cylinder), but these have "U.S.Everlasting" along with the patent date around the top. These also have the "4M' with the record number, which makes me think they probably did make a 2 min version. 18-4M1200 is the number on one of mine. Im also not sure what the core of these cylinders were actually made of, but they're black, and what looks and feels like a cross between rubber and tar!
There were quite a few different companies that made cylinders, like "white", "Edison Bell", "Pathe", "Sterling", "Clarion" and "Phrynis" just to name a few. You already know about the Columbias. Generally speaking- if you find any non-edison cylinders in good condition, you should buy them, because they didn't sell in as many numbers as edisons, and are harder to find, and are sort after by other collectors. Most off-brand cylinders will have their name on the record.

[Deleted]

Thanks Shane! Finding the Gold Moulded cylinders is rather hard, I was lucky to find the one's, I have. Any that I come accross on ebay, are really molded, and the people that are selling them, have no knowledge that the white stuff on the cylinder is mold, and damages the cylinder. Would any of the "white", Edsion Bell", "Pathe", "Sterling", "Clarion", and "Phrynis" work on my machine? Or just the edison's only?

Thanks for the information, on how to post on here, J.

[gramophoneshane]

No, they all work on an edison machine. You could only play the 2 min versions on your home, but if you find any 4 mins, you can stick them away somewhere til you get a 4 min player.

[Deleted]

Thanks shane. Oh, BTW: I asked Phil O'Keaf, and he said it's not nessecary to remove the cotton linning, from the Gold Moulded cylinders. The mold only formed when the cylinders were placed in a damp enviornment, or extrem heat, from an attic or basement. Otherwise I run the risk of damageing the cylinder. Since, I live in a climate controlled condo, it never get's overly hot, or extremly damp.

[gramophoneshane]

That's OK then. I live in a tropical climate, without air-con, so to leave them with the cotton lining is asking for trouble.
Dont forget to keep a look out for a recorder and recording blanks in your travels too- then you can make your own records on your home.

[Deleted]

No A/C huh? Bummer! I'll keep an eye out for one of those.

[neophone]

paul1971 said:

No A/C huh? Bummer! I'll keep an eye out for one of those.

What's A/C?

That one o'them modern inventions, like pop-up toasters?

Seriously, I wonder if some newer synthetic material could be used in place of the cotton lining to reduce the chances of mold?

Regards.
J.

[Deleted]

I saw something on ebay. Someone was selling special canisters with acid free paper, that had a holder inside the canister to support the Gold Moulded cylinder, from touching the sides. I don't know if they work, but I would ask the seller first. Phil O'keaf told me, that as long as they are kept, in a climate controlled enviornment. You shouldn't have mold growing on the cylinder. He also said, I should not remove the cotton lining, as this would damge the recording on the cylinder. The one's that do become moldy, are beacuse, they were stored in someone's, either a hot attic, or damp basement, where mositure would be absorbed by the cotton, thus causeing mold growth.

I scan through ebay a lot, and have found a lot of moldy Gold Moulded Cylinders. Most are sold by people who are not fammilar with Edsion phonographs, or the cylinders. I know for a fact that a collector such as myself, would not even purchase one. Unless they are, familliar with the cylinders as everyone on here is, They won't get any money, or very little. I have only been a collector of edison discs, and cylinders, since November, but I have learned so much since then. Mostly from talking to people on this board and the OTVMMB.

[maroongem]

Paul,

There was an Edison cylinder box that had instead of the lamb's wool lining, a cardboard tube in the center of the box which the cylinder fit over. I have quite a few of these boxes, and not one has any mold. It is believed that the lining retained any moisture in the air and transferred it to the surface of the cylinder where the mold would form. I will dig one out and post a picture.
One of the members of our local phonograph group works at a job that uses high power microscopes, and with his permission, I will post some pix of what these little critters look like at a certain magnification. They are all dead no of course! (I hope)

Bill