Edison O Reproducer Link

[fourforty]

I have an Edison O reproducer which I bought in rebuilt condition. I am wondering if the diaphragm link is of the correct length for two reasons. One, when using it on my Standard D the needle will touch the cylinder when the carriage is in the "rest" position. Two, when a cylinder is off the mandrel and the carriage is in the "play" position, the needle can touch the mandrel at the thickest portion of the mandrel taper. This is my only cylinder machine so I don't know if any of the problem lies with the Standard. I have almost put some serious scratches in a few cylinders because of this. Any suggestions?

[Lucius1958]

It sounds as if the link might be too short.

Bill

[FellowCollector]

The Edison model O and model M reproducer diaphragm-to-stylus bar links are unique relative to other Edison reproducer links in that they attach to the stylus bar using a tiny screw through a ring mounted in a yoke on the end of the link. Many of the O and M links also had a tiny lightweight spring to maintain tension between the ring and the hook that attaches to the diaphragm. Anyway, presuming the limit pin and limit "loop" are present on your O reproducer then it sounds like someone has messed around with the length of the link causing the stylus bar to hang too low. Pictures would be very helpful. If you decide to disassemble an O or an M reproducer get yourself a good magni-visor or loupe, be very cautious of the parts you remove and keep a shallow cookie sheet or some other shallow pan under your hands as you work. If you lose the tiny screw that attaches the link ring to the stylus bar then you're in deep trouble as that tiny screw is not being reproduced and it's almost impossible to find after you lose it.

Doug

[fourforty]

Thanks Doug for the helpful description of the 'O' components.

I have taken a careful look of my link hardware and it does seem to be complete. There is the ring at the stylus bar, the yoke, hooked bar and retaining spring for the hook at the diaphragm.

The only thing I can think of that would change the effective length of the link assembly would be the reproducer gasket thickness. If a thinner than normal gasket were used on a rebuild, then that would be the same as shortening the link. A thicker gasket would have the opposite effect. These 'O' reproducer links don't seem to be adjustable like the simple wire links used on the C and H models. Any other thoughts?

Thanks,
David

[FellowCollector]

You're very welcome, David. Would you please post a few pictures of your O reproducer so that we may also see what you see?

It is true that the person who rebuilt your reproducer may have used extra thin gaskets or removed the gasket lock ring, etc. Any change in the original configuration / thickness of gasket-diaphragm-gasket-lock ring-threaded retainer ring could change the resting / playing position of the stylus bar. You won't know unless you carefully disassemble the reproducer but before you go to that trouble it would helpful for us to see some pictures.

We'll presume that the horizontal carriage and the carriage 'eye' itself has not been modified on your Standard D? The reproducer limit pin should be nice and straight - not bent in any way.

Doug

[fourforty]

Here are some pictures. This is about as good as it gets without disassembling.