Dictaphone Shaver Question

[Rexophone]

Another in my continuing series of dumb questions. I have A Dictaphone shaving machine. Even though the hood over the shaving blade is intact, mine sprays wax shavings all over the machine whenever it is used. Very few fall into the drawer. What do I have set wrong? The blade appears intact. I frankly don't understand exactly how the hood works on shavers since the blade extends outside of the hood.

Any insight would be appreciated! A photo of my particular machine is included. Sorry it's dirty. The only photo on my computer was just after I pulled it out of the attic.

Steve

[edisonphonoworks]

Chuck Richards can give better insight to the Dictaphone brand, which some of these chutes will work for awhile and then get clogged, Most just remove the chute, and many times the shavings fall in the drawer somewhat. NEVER NEVER touch the shaver blade with anything made of metal, this includes not banging the chip chute against the knife when adjusting the chip chute. . A little camel hair brush, or wooden tooth pick can be used to clean the area around the chip cute. I find on my later 1940;s Master Edison shaver, that the chip chute on mine is almost even with the blade and actually burnishes the blank as the blade shaves it, even still I take a toothpick or camel hair brush and clean out the clogged aperture around the knife. Edison had it right in his 1905-1935 era shavers, an open V shaped trough guides the chips to the chip slot with no obstruction.

[EdisonWizard]

Man I was just about to say that about the Edison shavers. Mine has the vacuum and boy does it keep everything clean. I love it!

TheVictrolaGuy on YouTube just did a series on shavers. If you don't find your answer here shoot him an email. He has been really helpful to me with setting mine up and also advice on recording.

[Rexophone]

Thanks all!

I think my problem is in adjusting the chute. It is absolutely clean so I know that I don't have a clog. So maybe I don't understand-- do the chips go into the same tiny little hole that the blade extends through? If so, what you say about having the chute nearly burnish the cylinder as it rotates gives me a clue. I think I have my chute pushed too far back and maybe I should put it closer to the front edge of the knife. I tried contacting Victrola Guy, but the email on file seems to be obsolete.

Thanks again. I will try adjusting things tonight and see what happens. Hopefully I will not need to vacuum up the floor again!

Steve

[Rexophone]

Well, I adjusted the chute with no change in results. Here is the mess after only shaving an inch worth or so on a first pass, and then some more after doing some work on the remainder of the cylinder (in reverse pictorial order). Does anybody have the Victrola guy's email? The one on the forum seems to be obsolete.

Steve

[rgordon939]

Looking at the pictures of the cylinder I wonder if there may be an issue with your cutter. The cylinder in the first pictures looks to be scored rather than being cleanly shaved. The swarf on my Edison shaver comes off in a ribbon rather than small chips as Show on your machine. You can see mine on YouTube at this link https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sxxkFY-yJys

Rich Gordon

[Rexophone]

Thanks Rich,

That swarth looks absolutely beautiful coming off of your machine. Mine has generally produced these chips, but I know that I need to work on my technique. I think that either I may be cutting too deeply, or that the spring for the half nut may be set too aggressively. I say this because sometimes the carriage will not sit completely flat on the front, producing an irregular surface which you can see in that picture. The only way I could avoid that tonight was to put my finger on the front carriage weight. I may need to adjust that spring or do something else. This is the first time I have tried to use the machine seriously so I think I have a learning curve as far as both adjustments and technique.

The cutter could be damaged but to my eye it appears to be smooth and complete.

Thanks again,

Steve

[Rexophone]

Success at last! Seems I had a little jiggle in my main bearings. I tighten that up and was able to produce a perfectly smooth, shiny cylinder. I still have no clue about my original question-- the machine throws wax everywhere. Until I figure that out shaving may be an outdoor activity.

Thanks again,

Steve

[Chuck]

The adjustment of the chip-chute on those various Dictaphone shaver
models can be tricky to get it right.

If you remove the chute and look closely at the slot, you'll often see
small file marks from the last time some one of the Dictaphone service-men
worked on it.

My old Model 7 shaver's chip chute works great.
The chip chutes on both of my later "Cameo" model shavers
do not work well at all.

Nor do the chip chutes on either one of my Model 10 shavers.

So, out of 5 shavers, I only have one (the old Model 7) which has
a reliable, functional chip chute.

The best way I've found to deal with an ineffective chip chute is just remove
it. Shave with the bare cutter. Carefully hold a vacuum cleaner hose close
to the knife as it shaves, thus sucking up all the wax shavings.

That saves making a big mess, and it keeps the machine cleaner.
Also it insures a nice quiet and smooth shaved cylinder.

The only way to really learn about how to use these shaving machines
is by using them. Gain experience.

I would not personally pay much attention to what a person on youtube
says or does, who is the same person seen blowing the wax shavings into
the gears of an Edison phonograph....