Amberola 50 reproducer question 🤔

[Carl]

I was playing cylinders, and then in the middle of one, the volume went to inaudible. I looked to see why, and saw the stylus was not on the cylinder- the reproducer was. I removed the reproducer and saw that the tiny wire (?) that is attached to the stylus had broken off. There was some kind of hook still on the stylus, but whatever was connected to it, is not connected any longer. What the heck would do that? Is this an involved repair job? I looked online, but couldn't find anything specific. I appreciate your input.
Thank you

[FellowCollector]

It's not difficult to attach a new stylus bar link in your Edison diamond model C reproducer. And this would be a good opportunity to rebuild/restore the reproducer yourself with new gaskets and learn a bit about Edison reproducers in the process if you ever need to rebuild any more of yours. The only challenge that you might encounter is driving the stylus bar pin out of the reproducer weight shoulders. Once you get that pin out the rest is incredibly easy and rewarding. The diaphragm retainer ring is threaded and removes counter clockwise. Get the gaskets and the linkage first, be careful not to damage the diaphragm and you should be fine. Go slow, take pictures if needed. Good luck.

Doug

[Carl]

Thank you, Doug. I'll check out videos on the subject. In the meantime, is this issue just an age thing? I mean, from playing nice to caput within the play time of a cylinder?
Thank you

[FellowCollector]

You're very welcome. Most of the time the original fiber link from stylus bar to diaphragm is still in good usable condition even today. But yours may have been subjected to some unusual force or other conditions over time that weakened it. It happens occasionally. I presume that your reproducer weight pin is intact as well as the limit loop wire (house-shaped heavy gauge wire attached to the reproducer body). Some people have reported using fishing line or dental floss as a substitute but getting an original or reproduction linkage would be best.

Doug

[Carl]

Yes, Doug, that's what broke off from the hook - the fiber link from stylus to diaphragm. Some can be seen dangling from the hook. Everything else looks fine, or at least I think so. Much obliged. Thank you