Early Edison Diamond Disc Reproducer

[CDBPDX]

Just brought home an early Edison diamond disc reproducer. Frow says this was the first diamond disc reproducer and was used for 'some time' in 1912 before the introduction of the second type reproducer with the screw-on stylus plate. Pretty vague. Any more specific info on how many were made and for how long?

I've seen Edison literature with photos of this reproducer, but this is the first one I've ever seen. It works great, too!

Cliff

[DGPros]

Are you the one who posted it on the Facebook group? Please post pictures here. I would like to hear from some of the better informed than me. Thanks

[CDBPDX]

Are you the one who posted it on the Facebook group? Please post pictures here. I would like to hear from some of the better informed than me. Thanks

Yep. Here are the pictures.

[CDBPDX]

Here is a YouTube video demo for this reproducer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qtd_d8q8Nn8

Enjoy!

[DGPros]

Well my A-250 is #1593 and it has the next, 4 screw bottom weight reproducer.If Frow is correct (page 114) that 1043 were sold by March 1913 and 50 scheduled per day, my machine was made some time in April 1913. So I would put your reproducer before that.(this is also the month the side louvers were eliminated)

[PeterF]

Is there a serial number to be found anywhere on it? If so, please post the number, and a photo if feasible. Thanks.

[CDBPDX]

Is there a serial number to be found anywhere on it? If so, please post the number, and a photo if feasible. Thanks.

It is serial number A2031. That is the only number I can see. I haven't disassembled it, don't know if there are any other numbers or marks.

[PeterF]

That does the trick. Thanks.

[CDBPDX]

Just got some info from Steve Medved about his experience with this model reproducer, with some excerpts from Ron Dethlefson:

I have seen 4 of these this one makes 5, I have one that did not have the stylus bar, I got it off eBay. A friend I know has two, and Ron Haring sold one on eBay. According to Ron Dethlefson they were recalled so that is why you see so few of them just like the flat fishtail L and M reproducers. Ron said it is the first type of Edison DD reproducer that was made in 1912 -1913. As far as I know it was only available in nickel plating as that is all I have seen. A2713 is the highest serial number I have seen on these.

From the weight which is very similar to the Diamond A and Diamond B reproducer it is clear to me this weight was developed at the same time the Diamond A and Diamond B reproducer weights were. I used to think this was the first style Edison reproducer made but from the existing serial numbers it appears to have been made during the middle of the plain number and early A series reproducer. I now believe these weights were made for the cheaper machine, perhaps the A60. Unfortunately Edison did not keep notes on his reproducers so my research has come from surviving reproducers and the 5 I know of are not enough to for me to offer anything more than a theory.

Probably more info here than you could compile from just about any other source. Thanks, Steve!

[PeterF]

Ah, good. I was intending to tell Steve about it and forward the pix and s/n, but am glad you beat me to it.