Tech-tips needed: Edison Home-A, crica 1904

[De Soto Frank]

Help !

I need some advice from more experienced folks regarding some sorting-out on an Edison Home A, "new style cabinet", with 2 & 4 minute gears ( with shift-lever on the back-rod ), circa 1904.


Here we go:

> Tack-bumpers for case-bottom: Which size rubber tack-bumpers are appropriate for the bottom of the case ?


> Back rod: should I polish this on the buffing-wheel to a mirror-finish ? Right now it is "dull-bright", no pitting, but looks like it was "polished" with 220 or rougher sand-paper ? What will give least friction to the carriage ?


> Mounting Cushions for upper-casting: This machine has the upper-casting separate from the bed-plate. I removed the upper casting, and noted four holes through the bed-plate, roughly where the corner cushions should land. Can I use "snap-in" stemmed "door-bumpers", as found on some cars of the '50's - '60's, or just some rubber / neoprene washers ?

> Mounting Cusions at upper casting bolts: I removed the two ¼-20 (?) round-head machine screws that secure the upper-casting to the bed-plate. Each one has a stack of washers: round nickel-plated washer with a flat on one side - square leather washer about 3/16" thick ( looks to be die-cut and very old ) - round nickel-plated washer with a flat on one side. All this sits on the top-side of the upper casting "ear", there was nothing between the ear and the bed-plate. Do we think these leather squares are original TAE, or should these be round rubber cushions ?

I found some excellent color photos in "The Talking Machine: an Illustrated Compendium" pp 56-57, showing a Home A, and all the cushions seem to be round rubber ( the example in the photo appears to be unrestored, and the rubber is appropriately fossilized. )


My local Ace Hardware has a very respectable selection of hardware and stuff, and has a variety of rubber / neoprene washers, but also has a nice selection of rubber / neoprene grommets that I am thinking of trying...


Ultimately, I hope this machine will be a "player", and not just a shelf-queen, so I would like to find a happy balance between a historically-correct cushion, and something that effectively insolates the upper-works from motor vibration.


Thanks for your suggestions !

[fran604g]

[phonojim]

Any rubber parts used in your machine must be replaced if they have not already been. Ron Sitko has everything you need: tack feet, motor isolators, grommets for the screws and upper works isolator pads at reasonable prices. When you call him, he will help you determine exactly what you need for your particular machine.

If the back rod works smoothly, I would not bother polishing it but just degrease it with a good solvent and do the same for the carriage bore to remove any old grease and oil.

Jim

[Lucius1958]

Help !

I need some advice from more experienced folks regarding some sorting-out on an Edison Home A, "new style cabinet", with 2 & 4 minute gears ( with shift-lever on the back-rod ), circa 1904.


Here we go:

> Tack-bumpers for case-bottom: Which size rubber tack-bumpers are appropriate for the bottom of the case ?


> Back rod: should I polish this on the buffing-wheel to a mirror-finish ? Right now it is "dull-bright", no pitting, but looks like it was "polished" with 220 or rougher sand-paper ? What will give least friction to the carriage ?


> Mounting Cushions for upper-casting: This machine has the upper-casting separate from the bed-plate. I removed the upper casting, and noted four holes through the bed-plate, roughly where the corner cushions should land. Can I use "snap-in" stemmed "door-bumpers", as found on some cars of the '50's - '60's, or just some rubber / neoprene washers ?

> Mounting Cusions at upper casting bolts: I removed the two ¼-20 (?) round-head machine screws that secure the upper-casting to the bed-plate. Each one has a stack of washers: round nickel-plated washer with a flat on one side - square leather washer about 3/16" thick ( looks to be die-cut and very old ) - round nickel-plated washer with a flat on one side. All this sits on the top-side of the upper casting "ear", there was nothing between the ear and the bed-plate. Do we think these leather squares are original TAE, or should these be round rubber cushions ?

I found some excellent color photos in "The Talking Machine: an Illustrated Compendium" pp 56-57, showing a Home A, and all the cushions seem to be round rubber ( the example in the photo appears to be unrestored, and the rubber is appropriately fossilized. )


My local Ace Hardware has a very respectable selection of hardware and stuff, and has a variety of rubber / neoprene washers, but also has a nice selection of rubber / neoprene grommets that I am thinking of trying...


Ultimately, I hope this machine will be a "player", and not just a shelf-queen, so I would like to find a happy balance between a historically-correct cushion, and something that effectively insolates the upper-works from motor vibration.


Thanks for your suggestions !

> I am not absolutely sure (my Home A has the bumpers missing), but I think a ¾" bumper would be about right.

> My back rod is not exactly mirror finish; but if you try polishing it with pumice (and perhaps rottenstone), you should get an acceptable level of smoothness - particularly if you lubricate it with silicone, or fine oil.

> I have used common neoprene washers on my Home, and find them fairly satisfactory. (Looking at Bill Kocher's machine in the Compendium, I do not see whether it was restored or not). I have seen examples of Model As with squares of red rubber as insulators, but I do not know whether that is correct for this period. (As a note, I must mention that my Model A [from the end of 1904] has some spring suspension on the motor - does yours?)

> As for the attachment lugs on the upper casting: I replaced the insulation between the lug and washer with sheet rubber, cut to fit. I did not find any insulators between the lug and the bedplate.

Hope this has been of some help.

Bill

[VintageTechnologies]

I have never seen a back rod polished to a mirror finish. I would polish it as best as I could with #0000 steel wool and leave it at that.

I second the idea of buying parts from Ron Sitko.

[De Soto Frank]

Thanks for the suggestions.

Will get in touch with Ron Sitko on the rubber bits. When I wrote my initial inquiry, I did not realize there rubber isolators between the motor and the underside of the bed-plate... those are gone too.


As for the back-rod, I will hand-polish with a rag and some metal polish and see how that works.


Even with a buffing-wheel and rouge, I don't know if I would be able to raise a "mirror" polish out of that 100 year-old nickel plate... just trying to reduce the sliding friction as much as possible.

[NEFaurora]

"I would polish it as best as I could with #0000 steel wool and leave it at that."

+1

I agree with that.


)


Tony K.

Edison Collector/Restorer

[Edisone]

Even with a buffing-wheel and rouge, I don't know if I would be able to raise a "mirror" polish out of that 100 year-old nickel plate...

Is it plated? I assumed all of them were just plain steel.

[De Soto Frank]

Hmmmm.... good question.


I patently assumed they were nickel-plated, like the rest of the steel hardware... but then I've never seen one with peeling / plating loss....

[Lucius1958]

I think Edison never plated the carriage rods: they were simply plain steel.

Bill