Advice about Cylinder Phonographs

[Valecnik]

To address a few chaps' recent posts, I have by this time arranged to purchase a nice Standard 2/4 from Mr. Jerry B. It's coming in working order as far as I understand and with a recording head and C reproducer. I know that it isn't as strong as a Home or Fireside but I am not setting up a record factory, so I am sure it will be fine.

If it turns out I need a stronger one, I guess I'll have to expand my small collection

Nevertheless, I am glad that the thread continues to expand; I learn more with every post.

Winsyeydale, I don't think you'll be disappointed in the 2/4 standard. I think it will be comparable in power with a Fireside or Home. As others have noted, a Triumph would perform even much better but for quite a bit more money.

[Lucius1958]

To address a few chaps' recent posts, I have by this time arranged to purchase a nice Standard 2/4 from Mr. Jerry B. It's coming in working order as far as I understand and with a recording head and C reproducer. I know that it isn't as strong as a Home or Fireside but I am not setting up a record factory, so I am sure it will be fine.

If it turns out I need a stronger one, I guess I'll have to expand my small collection

Nevertheless, I am glad that the thread continues to expand; I learn more with every post.

All you need now is an H reproducer for 4 minute records, and you'll be set...

Bill

[winsleydale]

Yeah, and naturally I can't find anything but four minute cylinders, either... Oh well. I have much to get yet, between records, the H reproducer, and wax blanks. And a horn and listening tubes, mustn't forget those. Oh, and a shaver...

[edisonphonoworks]

A brown wax blank such made by myself, Paul or Chuck produce are for 2 minute recording and playing. If you want to record four minute master cylinders, they must be tapered to make moulded records, and you can use a brown wax blank to make a master four minute record, but not for continuous play. You can record four minute on 1912+ black wax Edison blanks, made for the purpose But these should be saved as artifacts, I do not see many of them, there were 2 varieties ones with double spiral and the later ones with ribbed core. I have made a few of these black wax four minute blanks, but admonish anyone from using them either new or old, as if you are recording four minute records for regular playback, the recorders are quite rare and these blanks would wear out your recording stylus in about twenty takes. Two minute recording stili seem to hold up well, unless you chip one, keep them away from hard surfaces. Triumph or Class M machines are the best recording machines I have only heard of 2 collectors recording on their class M's but that would bee a hoot to me, as most of them have Standard Speakers, which record just as well as play. I will say though that a Fireside or D model Standard works just fine with brown wax 2 min recording, though shaving would be best don with an office shaver. We just finished making 120 brown wax blanks this week. I think that is a modern record? I do not have much experience making these I have only made about 15,000 of them.

[Phototone]

Regarding "acetate" and disc recording blanks. This is the correct term, Acetate blank discs. These gradually supplanted wax discs in the late 1930's, but the studios didn't use them extensively for master recordings until after WW2 (I believe). Radio stations adopted them quite early as it allowed them programming freedom, and for air checks. The acetate lacquer is flowed onto a record blank base that can be alumimum, glass, or for home recording, paper. Once it sets up, it is still soft enough for cutting, and limited playback, or more, with a lightweight cartridge. This is STILL HOW RECORDS ARE MASTERED TODAY. Studios can still buy professional acetate blanks, but the cheaper home recording blanks are no longer made. It has been recorded that prior to adopting tape for master recordings CBS/Columbia recorded all their masters on large 16" acetate discs, which were dubbed to smaller sizes for plating and stamping. This was to get superior recording fidelity.

[Chuck]

Speaking of acetate, I just heard on the news a few days
ago that an original Elvis acetate sold at auction
for over $100,000.

It was the curator of Elvis's home "Graceland" who
stated that this recording is an acetate.