Edison suitcase Standard (Edison Bell) - advice please!

[Orchorsol]

Arguably/possibly this thread should be in the UK section as this is a UK variant, but I believe it's basically a generic US machine - although admittedly, I have almost no knowledge in this area! Cylinder phonographs aren't my main "thing", but I couldn't help but have this accompany me home from an antiques fair today. I paid £140 (that's around $195) including 13 cylinders but no horn. I would welcome all comments, information and advice please!

Obvious problems are - the rubber belt? - a stack of washers under the bolt that holds the feedscrew knife edge bracket (I have no idea what the proper terms are for these parts!) - speed out of range (fastest is too slow) and warbles wildly - and most seriously, although there is sound, playing a (black) cylinder generates quite a lot of pale amber coloured dust. Obviously I won't play any more cylinders for now.

[dzavracky]

Wyatt Markus makes really excellent leather belt... You should replace the belt you have on the machine with some of Wyatt's belting. That could be why the machine is warbly. If you can't get the machine to slow down enough; then move the govenor closer to the speed control pads by adjusting the bearings in the casting. (I would recommend winding down the machine before doing this). If you move the govenor closer to the brake pads, it won't be able to open up as much.

I have no idea about those washers holding the halfnut in place. Maybe it was DIY repair?

Hope this helps,

David

[Andersun]

Halfnut washer issue:

Whoever repaired the machine last did not have the correct size screw for the half nut so they used a longer screw and washers to make up the space differential. See pic for correct size. There should be 2 screws securing the feednut bar so if you have the other one you have a guide to get the one you need.
Thanks

[Orchorsol]

Excellent, thanks both! ("Half nut", of course.)

[neilmack]

With the catches only on the ends of the lid, and that low serial number, would this machine have been manufactured just before the end of the nineteenth century?

[drh]

I agree, the belt probably is part of the problem, but it probably isn't everything. I'd guess the motor needs a good cleaning and lubrication as well. Since it's running too slow, it also needs adjustment; David's right, the governor is likely off, although he got it the wrong way 'round, since you say the machine runs too slow, not too fast. As to that amber dust: did the black cylinder have brown spots or blotches on it? If so, those are mold, which is the death of wax cylinders. I don't know why, but in my experience European cylinders seem more prone to it than their American Edison counterparts. I have the impression even the Edison foreign language series cylinders are more prone to mold issues than the domestic product.

Incidentally, my experience with an Edison Standard Model B was that the speed does tend to warble, as you put it. All that gear train running the feed screw and whatnot is not conducive to as smooth a run as the "off the end of the mandrel" design.

[Orchorsol]

I agree, the belt probably is part of the problem, but it probably isn't everything. I'd guess the motor needs a good cleaning and lubrication as well. Since it's running too slow, it also needs adjustment; David's right, the governor is likely off, although he got it the wrong way 'round, since you say the machine runs too slow, not too fast. As to that amber dust: did the black cylinder have brown spots or blotches on it? If so, those are mold, which is the death of wax cylinders. I don't know why, but in my experience European cylinders seem more prone to it than their American Edison counterparts. I have the impression even the Edison foreign language series cylinders are more prone to mold issues than the domestic product.

Incidentally, my experience with an Edison Standard Model B was that the speed does tend to warble, as you put it. All that gear train running the feed screw and whatnot is not conducive to as smooth a run as the "off the end of the mandrel" design.

Thanks - no, the cylinders are really clean, so I'm guessing the "C" reproducer might have a chipped stylus? Unless a previous owner has treated the surface of the cylinders with something that has now hardened in the grooves? I must try to look at the stylus under magnification.

[kirtley2012]

A good buy!

I think I have a spare piece of Wyatts belting, I can rotate the stylus too if it is at fault, I may even have a screw to fit the half nut arm, doesn't seem too hard to bring up to scratch

[Orchorsol]

Thanks Alex, I did immediately think I might end up putting the reproducer your way!

[kirtley2012]

Thanks Alex, I did immediately think I might end up putting the reproducer your way!

Feel free