The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I recently saw a photo of a small Amberola with a massive add-on weight screwed to the existing weight on the stylus floating weight. Big enough to have been machined to follow the curve of the cylinder. I assume they were for added volume, just like the dance reproducer on a Diamond Disc machine. I never realized these were sold. Is it an Edison product? Were they sold throughout the 1920's era of Amberolas? Do they actually increase the volume of sound, even though these small Amberolas have a small internal horn? Any thing you can tell me would be appreciated.

How about a picture of what you are talking about...

This came from one of my Favebook groups

Isn't that a Diamond D reproducer?

George P.

I have owned 2 Amberolas similar to this, and I have never seen a reproducer like this.

This looks like an Edison Diamond D reproducer to me as well. These were nickel plated and equipped (only, I believe) on the Amberola 60 (and Amberola 80?). I have a good friend who owns an Amberola 60 and the reproducer here looks a lot like the one on his but it's been years since I've seen it. I can't recall whether the stylus bar opening on the weight on his was round like this one or elongated a bit. In any case, it sure seems like a lot of weight for a celluloid cylinder. And along with that I can imagine trying to play a cylinder that's just slightly out of round might create some difficulty with that weight. Edison Diamond B's occasionally show up with the extra weight like this.

Doug

Yes that is an Edison Diamond D reproducer. They were only produced for the Amberola Model 60 table top machine and the Amberola Model 80 standup machine. If you remember I had two Model 80’s listed for sale last year one in oak and one in mahogany, both of which are now sold. These machines are extremely rare and both had Diamond D reproducers.

Rich Gordon

So, is the Diamond D reproducer louder, fuller? The cylinder equivalent of the diamond disc Dance reproducer, or Edisonic?

That is just an absurd amount of weight!

Seeing it reminds me of the intro to the old
"Flintstones" cartoon show, where they pull their
car into the drive-in burger joint, their pet pokes his
head up through the canopy, and the server girl
comes out with a huge platter of Dino-Ribs.

The platter of ribs is so heavy that the car tips
over when she sets it on the window tray.

That's how much weight we have bearing down on those
poor hapless Blue Amberol cylinders!

Absurd! Insane! (just sayin')

Here's how much weight that looks to be, in my opinion:
If a regular Diamond Disc reproducer has the weight of a Baldwin steam locomotive, and an Edisonic or Dance reproducer has the weight of TWO Baldwin steam locomotives, then this thing pictured has the weight of at least 3 Baldwin steamers!

I restored an Amberola 80 for a customer years ago and was impressed with the volume that came from the Diamond D reproducer. The machine sounded like a Diamond disc phono. I think the weight is a bit too much however as you could see after playing a record several times, it was stressing it out.