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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2007 5:50:42 GMT -5
Has anyone seen an old Edsion Tinfoil phonogrpah outside of a museum? I know that not too many were made, and the one's that have surived are in Musuems: The Henry Ford Museum in Derborn Michagan, or the Edison Historic Site in Menlo Park NJ, or at the Smithsonian. I have never seen one on ebay, though I seriously doubt I would, and even if I did it would be extermely expensive. I do know they did not last long, becuse the foil, would disentagrate, or become shreaded after multiple plays. It would be nice to own one, but that just won't happen.
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Post by gramophoneshane on May 10, 2007 6:35:19 GMT -5
They are fairly expensive-especially complete examples, or at least the very limited few I've seen where.(and that was only through links posted on the other board)The guy who calls himself Tinfoil phono(Rene) on the other board has an impressive collection of them. If you look through the archives on the OTVMMB,You'll find a couple of Rene's spot-lights. They're something I will never be able to afford to buy, unless I win lotto. I bought a repro many years ago-when I say repro, its not a copy of an original,but more of a "round about" version,which I altered to try and make look a little better. I'll post a pic. It works- not that I've tried to more than 3 or 4 times, but it's the closest I'll ever come to the real thing.I doubt very many originals would have come to Australia to begin with. These were made in the late 70s out here by a phono club to celebrate 100 years of the phonograph. They were all a little different, but originally had a very heavy thick steel base,which looked rusty and ugly to me, so I made up an oak base, and did a couple other minor things to it. Im much happier with the way it looks now. The horn is a little aluminium light shade I bought for $2 at an op-shop.
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2007 6:56:11 GMT -5
Thank you shane. That's a nice example you have there.
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Post by bob27556 on May 10, 2007 12:03:42 GMT -5
Paul, I'd love to have a tinfoil machine as well but would also be limited to a reproduction. There was one at the recent Wayne show with an asking price of $1500.00 but I never got a chance to talk to the dealer about it. Does anyone who attended the show know anything about that particular machine?
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Post by gramophoneshane on May 10, 2007 15:09:06 GMT -5
They do seem to vary greatly in price. I was shocked to see one that sold in germany?? for around that price. It was not complete though- I think the recorder/reproducer was missing, along with some other minor little part. Other large complete examples have gone for 10 times that much though. I guess like everything else, it all depends on maker, quality, condition and rarity.
BTW paul. You'd probably be surprised at just how many tinfoil machines were actually made. Maybe not by Edison, but alot of machanical publications etc often had plans and instructions as to how to make your own home made phonograph- especially during the time between when Edisons interest moved to other things, and the Bell-Tainter wax coated cardboard cylinders came along. Of coarse, survival rates are pretty low in comparison.
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Post by maroongem on May 10, 2007 15:45:05 GMT -5
Here is a picture of my Kreusi made by Merek Stehlik in Canada about 20 or so years ago. His and the ones made by Bill Patacek are the only exact copies of the one made by John Kreusi in Edison's lab, 1877. Stehlik made 30 of these I believe and they all were serial numbered. This is #24 and is stamped on the end of the mandrel shaft as well as painted on the base underheath. My understanding of these is that Stehlik destroyed all the tooling after making these and will not make any more. I don't know how many Bill Patacek made, but he passed away several years ago in an unfortunate drowning accident, so of course no more will be forthcoming. It works fairly well. but I have to admit I cheat and use the reproducer for recording as well as the playback as it is easier to use. Edison did away with the recording component on his next machine and used the reproducer for both functions. Bill
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Post by maroongem on May 10, 2007 15:47:56 GMT -5
Paul, I'd love to have a tinfoil machine as well but would also be limited to a reproduction. There was one at the recent Wayne show with an asking price of $1500.00 but I never got a chance to talk to the dealer about it. Does anyone who attended the show know anything about that particular machine? I looked at that one in Wayne and I'm happy to hear that you didn't buy it. It was a very poor copy of the Kreusi IMHO, and wasn't worth the asking price. Bill
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Post by gramophoneshane on May 10, 2007 16:45:09 GMT -5
Very nice Bill. The one thing I've always disliked about mine is the duel function reproducer. It works, but I've always though if I had made a machine, supposedly to mark 100 years of recorded sound, it would have had a reproducer and seperate recorder- like the first ones. I guess thats the difference between a quality reproduction, and a cheap ozzy made likeness.
Now I think of it, theres another thing I've always hated too. Does yours have the (?)groove and rod(?) to fasten the tinfoil to the mandrel? I used to use glucose to glue the foil to the mandrel on mine, as there's no method of holding the foil to the mandrel.
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2007 19:10:30 GMT -5
WOW! Thanks for the information guys.
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Post by maroongem on May 11, 2007 7:12:18 GMT -5
Very nice Bill. The one thing I've always disliked about mine is the duel function reproducer. It works, but I've always though if I had made a machine, supposedly to mark 100 years of recorded sound, it would have had a reproducer and seperate recorder- like the first ones. I guess thats the difference between a quality reproduction, and a cheap ozzy made likeness. Now I think of it, theres another thing I've always hated too. Does yours have the (?)groove and rod(?) to fasten the tinfoil to the mandrel? I used to use glucose to glue the foil to the mandrel on mine, as there's no method of holding the foil to the mandrel. Thanks, Shane No, like the original, mine is sans groove. I use a glue-stick to fasten down the foil overlap. The stick works quite well and is water soluble. My understandiing of how they fastened the foil on the original was to make it a bit longer length wise and fold it over the edges of the mandrel. Bill
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Post by bob27556 on May 11, 2007 12:10:39 GMT -5
My thanks as well Bill. I don't know what the outcome would have been if I had talked to the dealer. There was a fair chunk of cash in my pocket this time thanks to some recent overtime at work and although a tin foil machine was not my main objective there was always the possibility of being strayed off target.
What does IMHO mean?
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Post by maroongem on May 11, 2007 12:59:21 GMT -5
My thanks as well Bill. I don't know what the outcome would have been if I had talked to the dealer. There was a fair chunk of cash in my pocket this time thanks to some recent overtime at work and although a tin foil machine was not my main objective there was always the possibility of being strayed off target. What does IMHO mean? It means "In my humble opinion." If you are interested in a quality tinfoil repro, I understand Ray Phillips is going to make again a limited amount of Parlor tinfoil machines. I think they will be around $1,800 and his replicas are quality pieces. I'll try to get more info. Bill
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Post by lukewarmwater on May 11, 2007 16:56:50 GMT -5
The Oliphant Brothers own more original tinfoil machines than any other private collectors.
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Post by Deleted on May 11, 2007 16:57:12 GMT -5
That's a bit steep, for my budget and taste. IMHO, can also mean "In my honest opinion".
Paul
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steve
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Post by steve on May 14, 2007 18:30:00 GMT -5
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