1932/34(???) Edison Electric Pickup/Reproducer

[GroverOverton08]

I remember at one point reading about these being patented in Britain around the early 30s. I don't recall much else, though. Does anyone know if these were actually manufactured or existent?

[edisonclassm]

you are referring to the Sykes Electrograph reproducer made in England mid 30's. They were made to play Blue Amberol cylinders. The only electric pickups manufactured by Edison were for his disc phonographs the C-2 and C-4

[hameleer]

Here is an orginal Sykes Electrograph reproducer playing on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p00X5Ns7BqQ

[ChuckA]

I remember at one point reading about these being patented in Britain around the early 30s. I don't recall much else, though. Does anyone know if these were actually manufactured or existent?

If interested here is the patent for the Sykes reproducer.

Sykes Patent-SM.pdf

(1.05 MiB) Downloaded 6 times

The patent also covers a unit for Diamond Discs and one for lateral cut discs. Never seen one those or even heard of any produced.
I have one mounted to an Edison Standard, it plays well but the only drawback is that it is very sensitive to out of round cylinders or with any imperfections.
The best cylinders I have found to play for demonstration are Indestructible cylinders they seem have the best "roundness?"
A cylinder that sounds great on a acoustic Diamond B will have a very noticeable periodic thump where the cylinder is slightly out of round when played on the Sykes.

Sykes Patent-SM.pdf

(1.05 MiB) Downloaded 6 times

Chuck