Edison Fireside help?

[Edisonfan]

Paul, Go to a Dollar Store or Dollar General and get a pack of 5 Bic single edge razors. I have used Bic razors for nearly 40 years to make the splice in leather belting for all of my phonographs that require a leather belt. Use the Bic razor along with a flat piece of board and carefully shave about ½ inch of one end of the belt so that it's tapered nicely. Then run the belt material through the pulleys drawing it snug but not too snug. Mark the belting where the matching splice you made will be covered by ½ inch and shave that end of the belt (on the opposite side of your first shaved end). Get some good wood glue and with your pliers pinch the spliced area together assuring the spliced area is in alignment with the belting material. Your splice should be just about the same thickness as the belt itself if you've made the splice correctly. Wait a few minutes for the glue to adhere. Install the belt and it should work for you. And make certain that your pulleys are in near perfect alignment.

I've tried using an Exacto knife and also a razor blade to make the taper ends on leather belting and it doesn't work as well as shaving the ends with a Bic single edge razor. But use whatever you're comfortable with. A rubber band will create a Wow effect during play.

Doug

By the way? Where can I get decent leather without spending too much money? I did buy some from the Phonograph Shop, but I only bought one belt? Maybe I should have bought a few more?

[FellowCollector]

The only place that I get my phonograph belting lately is the phonograph shop. I used to buy it from Wyatt for years but he no longer sells it as far as I know. Wyatt’s belting was the best I’ve ever used but I believe phonograph shop has similar quality belting. In fact, I just ordered 16 feet of their premium 7/32” belting yesterday for my own phonographs. It’s soft and supple. Perfect for phonographs.

Doug

[Edisonfan]

Thank you Doug!

[FellowCollector]

You're very welcome, Paul. Good luck and please keep us posted. If you're still having troubles getting the Fireside running properly after getting some additional belting material and making a belt feel free to include a video here or on your YouTube channel so we can see what may be going on. The Fireside is a well-designed Edison model and you should be able to enjoy it. If worse comes to worst and your next attempt fails, I can send you a belt from one of my Firesides. If and when you order more belting material I highly recommend ordering at least a couple of feet to allow for a mistake. It's $2.79/foot so you'll only be out about $6 or so plus shipping.

Doug

[Edisonfan]

I have two belts that I bought off eBay that were not the correct size ( messed up on my end). So I am hoping to get one belt out of both by splicing them together and see if I can make one belt from two?

[Andersun]

You can also contact Tim Fabrizio if nobody else has quality belting. He has really nice belting that is easy to work with. For best results, use a brand new razor blade for cutting.

[email protected]

[Edisonfan]

You can also contact Tim Fabrizio if nobody else has quality belting. He has really nice belting that is easy to work with. For best results, use a brand new razor blade for cutting.

[email protected]

Thank you! I have a brand new razor, I just forgot I have a decent cutting board.

[Edisonfan]

Good News Everyone!

I finally got a belt to work for my Edison Fireside Phonograph, by splicing two belts together, to make one, and then cutting to size for the machine. Which is now working, as it should. However, the speed is still an issue. I know Dyslexic Genius Hurt says it should take the carriage two minutes to travel between the two rings, but I can only get it in a minute.

Anyway, at least I am finally able to get my Fireside to work.

Paul

[outune]

Hi Paul- Are you referring to the two thin lines on the back carriage rod? They are there as One Minute markers-- If the carriage travels from one to the next in one minute, you are in good shape-

Brad Abell

[Edisonfan]

Hi Paul- Are you referring to the two thin lines on the back carriage rod? They are there as One Minute markers-- If the carriage travels from one to the next in one minute, you are in good shape-

Brad Abell

Yes Brad, that is correct! I was referring to those lines. I thought it was a minute, and not two? Because I remember reading that in the manual of my Edison Home.