Cylinder Phonograph advice needed

[jerry20874]

I have 2 phonographs, but I have never owned a cylinder type phonograph and have always wanted one. I would be looking for a fairly common machine, nothing fancy, rare or unique.

With the breadth of knowledge available here I would rather get your input as to what to look for, what to avoid, and what machine would be a good candidate.

Thanks in advance.

[Jerry B.]

Buy a 2&4 minute Edison Standard. They are inexpensive, robust, reliable, and versatile. If a person is looking for only one cylinder machine, buy a 2&4 minute machine. I prefer a Standard over a Home but either should be about the same price. Jerry Blais

[Valecnik]

If you don't need to have that outside horn, consider an Amberola 50.
- strong runner
- sounds great
- virtually indestructible
- plays the easiest variety of records to find, 4 minute BAs

Granted though you'd not be able to play any 4 min wax or any two minute records.

[estott]

The above suggestions are all fine ones, and the Fireside can be a nice machine as well, though a bit plain. I'd avoid getting an Edison Home unless you can find one at a very good price- there isn't anything wrong with them except they're bulky, and I don't find the larger size improves the performance over a Standard.

I wouldn't buy a Columbia cylinder machine as a first, they're often very fine but the pot metal parts in the carriage can require some expert repairs if they malfunction. Their little key wound machines are charming though.

[antique1973]

If you are ok with 4 min. Blue Amberols, I would recommend an
Amberola 30 as a good value for entry level budgets. Its a very
robust and reliable machine and sound quality is nice if the
reproducer is restored.

[jerry20874]

Thanks everyone for their helpful advice. I have a good ides what I am looking for now. I see the terms 2 minute and 4 minute cylinders or 2/4. That indicates to me that there are different cylinders out there, some that are 2 minutes long and some that are 4 and they aren't interchangable? Some machine can play both and some only one or the other?

Probably a pretty easy question for someone that's been doing this awhile, but I only have disk phonographs and have no experience with cylinders.

Thanks,
Jerry

[HisMastersVoice]

Thanks everyone for their helpful advice. I have a good ides what I am looking for now. I see the terms 2 minute and 4 minute cylinders or 2/4. That indicates to me that there are different cylinders out there, some that are 2 minutes long and some that are 4 and they aren't interchangable? Some machine can play both and some only one or the other?

Probably a pretty easy question for someone that's been doing this awhile, but I only have disk phonographs and have no experience with cylinders.

Thanks,
Jerry

Correct. 2 minute cylinders use a larger size stylus than 4 minute cylinders. What makes a machine combination 2/4 is the gearing, which allows the carriage to move faster for 2 min and slower for 4 min. You would still have to switch back and forth between a 2 minute reproducer and a 4 minute reproducer to be able to play both types. Playing the wrong cylinder with the wrong reproducer could damage both the record and the sapphire stylus.

Hope that helps.

[Andersun]

I would go with the Edison Standard Model B with a 2/4 minute attachment on it. It will be inexpensive and fit on a shelf or dresser real easy. The model B also is a solid design with the mandrel and feed screw supported by pin bearings on each end rather than a bushing in the middle which can cause problems on a Standard Model D with the open ended mandrel.

Steve