Interesting reproducers - Please comment

[Jerry B.]

I have three reproducers that, at first glance, appear to be 'L' reproducers. They are;

Reproducer A
Has a nickeled weight marked "N"
This reproducer was purchased with Amberola 1-A #1053

Reproducer B
Has an oxidized bronze weight that is unmarked
This reproducer was also purchased with Amberola 1-A #1053

Reproducer C
Has an oxidized bronze weight that is marked "L"
It's different than the other two in that it has a spring in the linkage

I believe that reproducers A and B were with Amberola 1053 for a long time. I would appreciate any comments. Thanks, Jerry

[Phonofreak]

Jerry,
The reproducer with the nickel weight looks like it came off of a model N reproducer at one time. My N reproducer has that same exact weight. I don't know if that is factory installed or not. It's interesting, though.
Harvey Kravitz

[phonogfp]

Interesting reproducers, Jerry.

A and C appear to have typical 4-minute type stylus bars, but B has a different type, with what appears to be a ball stylus. Possibly this was modified to play 2-minute cylinders. The M Reproducer didn't appear until May 1910, so perhaps the original owner of Amberola No.1053 was so anxious to play his 2 minute records before then, he bought another L and converted it to play 2-minute! Does B play 2 minute cylinders?

George P.

[Lucius1958]

Interesting reproducers, Jerry.

A and C appear to have typical 4-minute type stylus bars, but B has a different type, with what appears to be a ball stylus. Possibly this was modified to play 2-minute cylinders. The M Reproducer didn't appear until May 1910, so perhaps the original owner of Amberola No.1053 was so anxious to play his 2 minute records before then, he bought another L and converted it to play 2-minute! Does B play 2 minute cylinders?

George P.

Perhaps I'm not a great judge of scale, but that looks too small to me for a 2 minute stylus…?

Bill

[victorIIvictor]

Hello, Jerry,

I was intrigued by your posting and asked Steve Medved about it. Here is what he told me, and any errors that might creep in are entirely my responsibility.

The reproducer you labeled "C" is a normal late Model L (as described in the middle paragraph of Frow, page 303) and has both springs, the tiny one around the eyelet under the link and the larger coil spring.

Steve thought that the reproducer you labeled "B" had the "L" designation stamped on the top (i.e., the part of the weight that is visible if you look at the reproducer from above). I must say that when I enlarged your picture with all three reproducers viewed from above, I didn't see any such stamp. Perhaps this is yet another Model L variation. On the other hand, Frow on page 304 states, "A projecting shoulder, frequently stamped with the letter 'M' carried the limit loop." That suggests that not all Model Ms are stamped with this identifying mark. Therefore, perhaps this is an unmarked Model M weight. Or, perhaps Model Ls, too, were "frequently" stamped with this identifying mark, but not all.

In any case, Steve believes that the unmarked weight on the reproducer you labeled "B" is fitted with either a Diamond ABC stylus bar or a DD stylus bar.

As for the reproducer you labeled "A," Steve says it has the weight from a Model N (as it is clearly marked and Harvey has already commented on) that someone moved the limit loop on.

You mentioned that you "believe that reproducers A and B were with Amberola 1053 for a long time." I'm not sure exactly what you mean, but to me a long time could be 50 years, and doesn't that take us back to the 1960s and the era of Clarence Ferguson's bizarre reengineerings of Edison reproducers and Frick's Freaks? I don't know much, but it seems like anything went in that era.

By the way, what are the serial numbers of these reproducers?

Best wishes, Mark

[Lucius1958]

Hello, Jerry,


In any case, Steve believes that the unmarked weight on the reproducer you labeled "B" is fitted with either a Diamond ABC stylus bar or a DD stylus bar.


Best wishes, Mark

That stylus bar does not look to me like anything I've seen on a Diamond reproducer - although my experience is limited: did any of the early As have a flat bar like that?

Bill

[Jerry B.]

I would be happy to post the serial numbers of the reproducers but I sent them to Steve so he could work his magic on them. The one I said had an unmarked weight did have the L stamped on the top side. Thanks, Jerry

[victorIIvictor]

Bill,

I was worried I had misquoted Steve, but this is what he wrote me, "B has a Diamond ABC or DD bar." I agree with you inasmuch as the stylus bar doesn't look like the one on my Diamond A (talk about limited experience!) Perhaps Steve meant to say, B has a Diamond ABC or DD stylus; it does resemble one, at least to me.

Jerry, if the reproducers are going to Steve, then the serial number information is going to the right place. I was just curious of any of them were outside the known Model L/Model M sequence.

Best wishes, Mark