Edison cranes

[mjbarnes]

How many Edison cygnet horn crane variants are there? I only count two: one for the top mounted reproducers and one for the front mounted (like C and H).

[phonogfp]

The lower section of a Cygnet crane for Triumph is slightly longer than that for a Standard/Home.

Also, the earliest top sections were flatter at the topmost end, where a rigid mount (no spring) attached.

George P.

[mjbarnes]

So to manufacture cygnet cranes today there would need to be four variants. I am assuming these would all be "new-style" that is with spring:

1. Triumph front-mount
2. Triumph top-mount
3. Standard/Home/Fireside front-mount
4. Standard/Home/Fireside top-mount

I suppose the Triumph variant was necessary because the 11-panel horn is taller than the 10-panel.

[phonogfp]

These variants are all covered by the four different lower rods.

George P.

[ChesterCheetah18]

These variants are all covered by the four different lower rods.

George P.

Please forgive my ignorance. I wasn't aware there were different cranes for top mount vs. front mount. Is there a tutorial out there I can read to educate myself?

Steve

[phonogfp]

Please forgive my ignorance. I wasn't aware there were different cranes for top mount vs. front mount. Is there a tutorial out there I can read to educate myself?

Steve

No need to apologize - - none of us were born knowing a thing about this stuff.

I'm not aware of an online tutorial explaining the differences in Cygnet cranes, but there very well may be one somewhere.

Again (excepting the early rigid mount Cygnet cranes), the differences between the Cygnet cranes are confined to the lower rods:

1) Triumph for 45-degree carriage (I'm not a fan of using "front mount/rear mount" terminology for this application).
2) Triumph for horizontal carriage.
3) Standard/Home/Fireside for 45-degree carriage.
4) Standard/Home/Fireside for horizontal carriage.

George P.

[mjbarnes]

Has anybody made reproductions of all four variants?

And have reproductions ever been machined to the same quality as originals? The two repros I have owned were both a little crude -- they show some filing in the slots, and the slots are not quite perpendicular to the bend.

[ChesterCheetah18]

Please forgive my ignorance. I wasn't aware there were different cranes for top mount vs. front mount. Is there a tutorial out there I can read to educate myself?

Steve

No need to apologize - - none of us were born knowing a thing about this stuff.

I'm not aware of an online tutorial explaining the differences in Cygnet cranes, but there very well may be one somewhere.

Again (excepting the early rigid mount Cygnet cranes), the differences between the Cygnet cranes are confined to the lower rods:

1) Triumph for 45-degree carriage (I'm not a fan of using "front mount/rear mount" terminology for this application).
2) Triumph for horizontal carriage.
3) Standard/Home/Fireside for 45-degree carriage.
4) Standard/Home/Fireside for horizontal carriage.

George P.

Thank you George. That helps quite a bit. I gather that the bottom section if a horizontal mount would have less of a bend?

Steve

[phonogfp]

Thank you George. That helps quite a bit. I gather that the bottom section if a horizontal mount would have less of a bend?

Steve

Actually, the lower rod for a horizontal carriage would be more "set back" than one for a 45-degree carriage. This is why we sometimes see installed Cygnet horns pointed upward or downward; an incorrect lower rod.

George P.

[mjbarnes]

Cranes need to be made as reproduction parts from time to time. I have lost parts of cranes twice -- once I found the part, the other time -- well, I am still looking. Non-collectors (heirs and those who happen on a phonograph) must misplace cranes which then get thrown away. Auction houses are in the habit of separating machines from horns and cranes. It must be a headache for buyers/bidders.