A surprising local find - Edison Standard B and large horn

[Inigo]

Wow... You did it really well!

[Curt A]

That turned out well, so far... looks like it's going to be a really nice machine.

[kirtley2012]

Last night I got the machine itself done (beside the broken stylus which is still needed), its all running smoothly too, the brass stock to fix the horn is on its way.

[Inigo]

As the marvelous Criterion Qt song said... Oh Lucky Jim... Lucky Jim. .. How I envy him... Lucky Jim...
Yet this is not Jim, it's Alex Kirtley, and it's not luck, it's his good disposition, hard work, knowledge and patience. ..
I'm going to buy a hat and wear it on, only to take it off before you and do a reverence to you, wise guy!!!
The only successful things gramophonic I've achieved are: tuning soundboxes (this very good, although not yet with the Exhibition), overhaul motors (although they're invariably noisier after my treatment) and applying linseed oil and wax to the wooden cases to renew them (shellac is still a mistery to me).

[dzavracky]

Bravo Alex, you did a really nice job saving that machine!

David

[kirtley2012]

Thanks!

Well today I got the horn done for now, I had to buff out some deep green corrosion in the horn, so to avoid the horn looking patchy, I decided to buff out the whole horn, but I have left it as bare brass, so I'm going to let it dull down again before adding a clear coat.

I made a new tapered end and soldered it in place, and a new hanger, i'm pretty happy with it, it looks a little strange being polished but retaining all the dents, but that will sort itself out.

Here's a little video I did of the first test, some flutter to sort out, likely an issue with the old belt and it seems a little stiff in places, but not bad for a first test I think.

(Double-click the video above or click this link to go to the video on YouTube.)

[Roaring20s]

Outstanding entertainment at a 1908 pricing.

[gramophoneshane]

Great job restoring the machine and horn Alex. It all looks fantastic.
That's a great cylinder as well.
Then again, I don't think I've come across a Sterling record I haven't liked. They're always really well recorded with enjoyable artists. I guess we have Russell Hunting's year of experience to thank for that.
It sounds like you've been playing 2 min celluloid with that sapphire.
The sudden wavering sound quality followed by a skip is a classic sign of it in my experience. The same thing happens with 4 min wax when you use a sapphire on celluloid, except it happens more often.

[kirtley2012]

Great job restoring the machine and horn Alex. It all looks fantastic.
That's a great cylinder as well.
Then again, I don't think I've come across a Sterling record I haven't liked. They're always really well recorded with enjoyable artists. I guess we have Russell Hunting's year of experience to thank for that.
It sounds like you've been playing 2 min celluloid with that sapphire.
The sudden wavering sound quality followed by a skip is a classic sign of it in my experience. The same thing happens with 4 min wax when you use a sapphire on celluloid, except it happens more often.

It is a great record isn't it, Russell hunting really did work wonders.

No it's a brand new stylus from Wyatt Markus so the sapphire should be fine, I think that issue was the limit pin running right at the end of its reach and the groove getting away, I have since switched the reproducers up a bit, the one I was using there was a bit put together and was causing excessive wear with swarf on the records (somewhat worrying when seen on that fab sterling), I've taken the best parts from that one and this standards original reproducer and put together a reproducer which seems much better