Ill fitting reproducer

[Le0]

I have some issues with my Edison Home's carriage... it has grind marks and so does the reproducer. the butchery was done so they could "fit" together.
I tried fitting an unmolested reproducer but it's "too big".

EDIT: *the unmolested reproducer is too big to fit the carriage

anyone knows what happened?

[phonogfp]

I'm bewildered by the problem you describe, but I can point out that the carriage on your Home seems significantly older than the rest of the machine. The single-screw clips are seldom seen, and were apparently a short-lived design that appeared in early 1898. The serial number of your Home suggests a sale date of March 1901.

That said, the end of the "suitcase" Home was fast approaching by that time (March 1901). It's possible that parts inventories were being scoured for assembly of the last of these models, and this 3-year-old carriage turned up. While this scenario isn't likely, there's a remote possibility. On the other hand, the molestation of the reproducer and carriage suggests that someone was mating parts later on.

In any event, that's an early and relatively scarce carriage (assuming there are no additional screw holes beneath the single-screw clips).

George P.

[Le0]

there are no other screw holes.
I doubt it's original to the machine as it has some other obvious signs someone tinkered with it.

[FellowCollector]

This is shameful on the part of a prior owner.

There was some obvious "work" done on the reproducer top to try to repair the threaded hole for hinge block pin that was obviously blown out.

I'm guessing that the "work" that was done in that area added material to the reproducer top. So, in addition to modifying the reproducer top the same buffoon also, very sadly, enlarged the carriage eye to accommodate the modification at the hinge block thus making the carriage eye too large for a normal reproducer.

I can understand a prior owner in the past modifying a reproducer to try to make it work again. It's a shame to see some of the tactics that were done. But that's the reproducer alone. Not usually a big deal.

But when someone modifies a carriage so that it can ONLY be used with their poorly modified reproducer that's over the top in my opinion.

FWIW, the limit loop pin is also not right on this reproducer top.

I'm guessing you'll need to replace the carriage and the reproducer as a result of this damage. What a shame. Especially since this was an early Edison Home carriage.

[Le0]

Hi Fellowcollector,

the reproducer is shot, every part of it has been damaged/altered in some way and the "limit loop pin" is a watch's winding stem!

I've tried fitting an unmolested reproducer but it will NOT fit in the hole; it would need even more grinding... so I'm wondering what's wrong with that carriage? cast iron doesn't shrink as far as I know and if it did it would show on the paint?

unfortunately the machine is missing quite a few key components that would make it's completion cost higher than it's value.

[FellowCollector]

I've tried fitting an unmolested reproducer but it will NOT fit in the hole; it would need even more grinding... so I'm wondering what's wrong with that carriage?

The carriage eye has been enlarged according to what I see in your pictures. Therefore, my assumption was that you are having trouble fitting an unmolested (ie. normal, original) early wing type model C, Automatic or wing type model B reproducer in that carriage eye and it would not fit correctly due to the enlargement of the carriage eye. This is why I presumed the carriage would need to be replaced if it would no longer be usable with an original Edison model C reproducer (or a model B or Automatic reproducer) that has not been messed with.

EDIT: *the unmolested reproducer is too big to fit the carriage

Huh?? I'm misunderstanding...An original Edison early model C, Automatic or model B reproducer will not fit in the carriage eye because "the reproducer is too big"?

What reproducer are you trying to fit in this carriage with the enlarged 'eye'? As George mentioned earlier, the carriage is early but if it is too small for one of those reproducers then I'm confused as well. Are you trying to fit an Edison reproducer with a pot metal top by any chance?

[Le0]

maybe I didn't explain myself very well... the hole in the carriage is too small to fit an unmolested (brass model C, fits like a glove on my other machines) reproducer despite the grinding. the reproducer was ground too so both parts would "fit" together.

[martinola]

You know, that almost looks like an inner sleeve in that carrier. I'm also wondering about that hole between 3 and 4 o'clock. Could somebody have pressed a ring in for some reason?

[Fonotone]

I can't see where a second sleeve has been added, nor does it appear as though the original sleeve has been replaced, but I'm wondering if you've tried to remove the clips and screws before mounting the reproducer? It looks like the bottom of each clip (where it's screwed into the carriage) is extending slightly over the iron, which would prevent you from mounting the reproducer flush to the carriage.

--Grant

[martinola]

Here are a couple of photos of what I'm talking about:

CU_carrier-12oclock.jpg (128.29 KiB) Viewed 2036 times

CU_carrier_3oclock.jpg (157.51 KiB) Viewed 2036 times

CU_carrier-8oclock.jpg (137.43 KiB) Viewed 2036 times

There looks to be a parting line. The metal looks different too. Could it be solder, babbit or ? The give away should be the dimentions of the part that hasn't been filed. The diameter should be about 38mm or 1 ½". Measure it 8 o'clock to 1 o'clock, then 11 o'clock to 4 o'clock. If it's smaller than that, try it from the parting lines and see what you get. It sure is an odd set-up!

Martin