Adding a long play mechanism to a Diamond Disc phonograph

[Edisonfan]

Has anyone attempted to add a long play mechanism to their diamond disc machine? In order to play the Long Play discs?

Paul

[PeterF]

Yes, I have done it several times, and it’s pretty straightforward. One needs to be somewhat handy and mechanically adept, and you must have the installation instructions - which are extremely well written.

The instructions used to be available as a reprint, and certainly someone here will be able to post a copy. You will feel a kinship with the author after completing the work. Print an extra copy that you can get greasy and discard after use.

The adapter will show up on eBay every so often, but it is best to get the instructions first so you know what you’re getting yourself into. It will also show you the components, so you can check that the kit is complete before purchasing.

Remember that you need the long play reproducer, and that the motor must have two springs. The second spring is easy to add to all of the later motors, so don’t let that part stop you.

Finally, make sure you have LP disc(s) of sufficient quality. Unless quite pristine, the playback can be quite miserable, noisy or skippy or repeaty or some combination of those. It’s easy to pay top dollar for one and find it to be unplayable.

And finally, except for a very small minority, the content of the discs is pretty bland. It’s mostly supposed to be “dinner music” - quiet and unadventurous - and that’s what it is!

Good luck…

[Edisonfan]

Thank you Peter.

I may not be able to add it to my S-19, as it only has a single spring motor, and no room to add the switch.

[PeterF]

No, I’m pretty sure it will work. The switch clamps onto the bed plate and should fit in the space between the bed plate and the wooden surround. You can add a second spring barrel to the S-19.

[Edisonfan]

thank you

[52089]

No, I’m pretty sure it will work. The switch clamps onto the bed plate and should fit in the space between the bed plate and the wooden surround. You can add a second spring barrel to the S-19.

I've personally found it easier to just swap out the single spring for a double spring. Regardless of how you do this, you will also need to change the part that mounts onto the underside of the bedplate that holds the end of the spring axle. The part you want is narrower and mounts with just 2 screws.

You may want to look here. The instructions are posted there as well as my own comments and experiences.
viewtopic.php?t=53914&hilit=long+play

[CarlosV]

And finally, except for a very small minority, the content of the discs is pretty bland. It’s mostly supposed to be “dinner music” - quiet and unadventurous - and that’s what it is!

Good luck…

I agree, I have a couple of LP diamond discs and only played them once, or to demonstrate them to a visitor. The music was not recorded to benefit from the long playing time, but rather a compilation of short pieces cobbled together, and I suspect that they were not recorded specifically for the LPs, but dubbed from previous records. My machine came with a LP gear and the soundbox, so I did not have to go through an installation, but given the available records, I would not care to install one other than as a curiosity. Moreover, as far as I know, there are no modern stylii to replace the original ones.

[drh]

I added (or, more properly, had added) an LP gear set to my C-250. It works fine, and over time I've acquired at least passable copies of nearly all the LP records. Note that unless viewed and, preferably, actually played in person, an Edison LP disc is the most porcine of pigs in a poke, and the investment required for the LP discs is far out of proportion to the pleasure one can derive from hearing them, at least in my experience. They have an undeniable "cool" factor, especially the 12" ones, but if I hadn't already headed down that road, I'm not sure I'd start now, knowing what I do.

All the LP discs were acoustically dubbed from standard diamond discs. In some cases, a classical or light classical work that took up two sides in standard format--for instance, Beethoven's Egmont Overture or Ponchielli's Dance of the Hours-- was joined for uninterrupted play, and to give credit where it's due the side joins were consistently well executed. If you'd like to compare the sound from an Edison LP disc to that of the standard disc from which it was dubbed, both being played on my C-250, you can access a video I put together through the link at the end of this article: https://www.tnt-audio.com/vintage/ediso ... ral_e.html

[Edisonfan]

At this point, I may not bother with adding the attachment. As it seems like a lot of work, just to install it. Not to mention adding a second spring. I was mainly curious to see, if anyone on here had actually done it?

The disc’s themselves are a curiosity.

[edisonplayer]

Before I got my C250 from Jerry Donnell he put LP gearing on it.I got a couple of the LPs from him,and I got the reproducer on eBay.edisonplayer.