need to fix a K reproducer

[edisonphonoworks]

It is a Diamond B stylus ground to fit the four minute slot, Probably dangerous to any cylinder, maybe would play a Blue Amberol, but certainly would chew up any metallic soap (wax) record.

[Iva]

Is it possible it's a Diamond tip welded onto straight bar?

Iva

Looking at your most recent pictures it certainly appears that a "creative" prior owner cut off the end of the original stylus bar shown in the pictures, thereby truncating the original stylus and its holder and then silver soldered a truncated Edison diamond stylus bar with its diamond stylus onto this stylus bar. And then cleaned it up a bit with a grinder to look somewhat correct.

A LOT of work for what may result in damage to any cylinders played with this cobbled together stylus bar.

I would definitely NOT use this (apparently) cobbled up stylus and stylus bar.

The bar and stylus appeared to me (in the original picture early on) to be similar to a Columbia 4 minute bar and stylus but with the recent pictures it's definitely not. I'm fairly confident this is a cobbled together stylus bar.

This entire reproducer has been messed around with as evidenced by the homemade knotted diaphragm link and the hinge block debacle.

Doug

Doug,
Thank you for mentioning "hinge block debacle". I was beating myself up a bit for "breaking" that part of the reproducer. I had hopes of selling parts of this at least.

And what a ride of up and downs it has been...lol
At first thinking I had a K reproducer.
I was pretty excited.
I need one for my first machine that plays 2 and 4 min..but it only has an H reproducer.

and then bummed to find it was missing a stylus bar. And then even more bummer to find the one that was there was not the right one either.
And then thinking maybe I had a diamond stylus I could sell.
welp...lol...nope.

and then to break the reproducer and what I thought maybe I could sell pieces of...dang.
But to find it wasn't right there either and not my fault..is a relief.

This whole experience has been fun though. And it's neat to think that 50 years ago or so, someone took the time to cobble together this reproducer. It makes me think about those days.
They must of been limited in what they had to use to "fix it"?
Did he want to play indestructible cylinders so bad that he cobbled it together with what he had?
Maybe he had no idea and worked with what ever he could find?
Was this a teenager with the idea of just messing around to see what he could come up with?
I still don't see a "diamond" on the tip of this.

I don't think it was made to deceive the next buyer though...seems like a lot of work like Doug said.
and I don't think folks were getting much for these machines 50 years ago.

What a wonderful learning experience with the help of those that replied. Thank you!!
I learned that one should always look at the reproducer..and make sure it is what they say. It may just be a cobbled mess.
It was good to take it apart and learn more about how they work. Once it was apart I was able to see the gaskets and the wear and tear of old age on them and how they turn to dust. I'm forcing myself to NOT to look at my H reproducer yet, I'm guessing the gaskets will fall apart and I don't have gaskets to replace those yet..but I plan to.

I'm still hoping that some of these K reproducer parts may be of interest to someone so that I can work on getting a C reproducer and finally play some of the cylinders I received.
Provided they are not already ruined if someone played them on this machine before with the bad reproducer.

Thank again to all,
Iva

[Iva]

It is a Diamond B stylus ground to fit the four minute slot, Probably dangerous to any cylinder, maybe would play a Blue Amberol, but certainly would chew up any metallic soap (wax) record.

I'm just glad the machine is in such nice working order and shape.
So glad it wasn't cobbled together in strange ways like the reproducer...lol.

Thanks
Iva

[martinola]

Hi Iva,

In regards to the "cobbledy-K" reproducer, I tend to cut yesterday's restorers a bit more slack. The restorer of 50 years ago didn't have the internet to help locate scarce parts or easy access to those who researched and replicated parts as we have today. This hobby has come a long way. The fact that you can narrow down your machine's issues within a month is amazing compared to trying to network one swap meet at a time back in the old days. Hopefully, you'll be up-and-running with the right stuff in the near future.

Regards,
Martin

[ambrola]

2 new stylus bars and a hinge block and the K can be brought back to life?

[Iva]

Hi Iva,

In regards to the "cobbledy-K" reproducer, I tend to cut yesterday's restorers a bit more slack. The restorer of 50 years ago didn't have the internet to help locate scarce parts or easy access to those who researched and replicated parts as we have today. This hobby has come a long way. The fact that you can narrow down your machine's issues within a month is amazing compared to trying to network one swap meet at a time back in the old days. Hopefully, you'll be up-and-running with the right stuff in the near future.

Regards,
Martin

Martin,

It was more that I was impressed with their ingenuity back then and was pondering over why they decided to make it the way they did.

I get this fun image of some guy sitting around his shop with all sorts of different needles and parts and pieces of reproducers. Back then I'm guessing they were all over the place.

2 new stylus bars and a hinge block and the K can be brought back to life?

Actually...the weight and the diaphragm and possibly the Top Housing looks to be the only good parts on this K reproducer...oh and one of the bar holders looks ok.

To fix this I would need:

New hinge block
Diaphragm gaskets and washer
2 paper gaskets ?
Diaphragm link
Sapphire stylus w/bar 2 min
Sapphire stylus w/bar 4 min
Swivel Plate
Swivel Plate Washer
1 Bar Holder
The Pointer

I'm not positive that a hinge screw(?) would even fit back in.
So I may even need the top housing.
If it's not a screw attached to the hinge and just a pin that goes in the hole..then the top housing might be ok.

I don't know if what I have is worth much. The pieces might be a trade in for some bucks off of a C reproducer?
I just need to gather my funds to figure out what my next move is on this.

I mean...the player is pretty and all...but I would sure like to play it and not just look at it...heh.

Thanks to all
Iva

[ambrola]

Wanna sell it?

[Iva]

Wanna sell it?

I'm thinking about fixing it.
I really would like to have the K Reproducer.
Seems about half the cost to fix it then it is to buy one.

I have a 2 and 4 min player, so I could use it.

What came with my 2-4 min player is an H Reproducer.
I may be willing to trade it for a C Reproducer.

That way if I get the K Reproducer fixed I have that for my 2-4 min player,
Then I would have the C Reproducer for my 2 min player.

I know I can use the C and H on my 2-4min player..but I plan to give the players to my boys
at some point and I would like Reproducers that can go with each player.

Thanks for asking though and I'll keep you in mind if I do decide to sell the parts.
Iva

[Iva]

It is a Diamond B stylus ground to fit the four minute slot, Probably dangerous to any cylinder, maybe would play a Blue Amberol, but certainly would chew up any metallic soap (wax) record.

Just to make sure...this stylus I have is no good to anyone right? I'm guessing it's pretty much ruined now that it's been ground down.

Iva