Edison Recorders

[debndunk]

Hi, can anyone tell me why suddenly my Edison recorder is noisy, it seems to be making a whining sound when placed on the cylinder.
Many thanks Gordon.

[VintageTechnologies]

Hi, can anyone tell me why suddenly my Edison recorder is noisy, it seems to be making a whining sound when placed on the cylinder.
Many thanks Gordon.

I'll assume you are indeed using a Recorder, to make a record, rather than a Reproducer to play one. I will further assume you are using the later style of Edison recorder. Assuming the above, does it whine using a different blank of different thickness or composition?

I would most strongly suspect something is loose, causing a buzzing sound. Check if the diaphragm is securely glued to the gasket all the way around. Check if the stylus bar is securely glued to the diaphragm. Check that the sapphire cutting jewel in still intact in the stylus bar.

[Chuck]

Hi Gordon,

Check your cutter. Use highest magnification and
brightest possible light. It may have gotten chipped somehow.

Other things that could cause this oscillation might be
if somehow some of the glue or beeswax is coming loose
somewhere. Check to make sure that the stylus holder
is securely cemented to the diaphragm, and that the
diaphragm is securely waxed all around.

This is, (of course) assuming that this is one of
the very common later recorders, and not one of the
earlier designs such as the automatics, which have a
pivoting stylus bar, a stationary diaphragm, and a
swinging weight.

Have you tried recording on different blanks?
Does this recorder make this noise on all blanks or just
a few?

Perhaps try warming the blank.

What is the room temperature when trying to use
this recorder? Is it warmer or colder in the
room as usual? Colder temperature can induce this noise.

I've had various versions of this same sort of
oscillation at various times, with various recorders
and blanks. One such rather recent example of this
was from last summer when I made a brand new copper
stylus holder for another Edison "home" recorder.

I had a brand new cutter stylus and it has a tapered
hole in the front. That thing whined and echoed
and did all sorts of unmanageable things at first.

It ended up needing the downward pressure of the weight
to be reduced to avoid the echo-around. (Long story
there, I had to install a "magnetic lift" which
decreases the effective weight without altering
anything on the old recorder)...

Then, in addition to that, I also had to end up
severely dampening the action of the diaphragm using
extra mounds of beeswax, and eventually I ended up
beeswaxing a hunk of matchbook cover cardboard
about .188 x .63 inches, on to the diaphragm,
directly below the cutter.

The lightening of the weight, along with the severe
dampening finally resulted in getting this recorder
under control. It's a really nice recorder now, it
records very clearly, loudly, and distinctly.

But yeah....I feel your pain....

Recorder oscillations can be a challenge to troubleshoot
and to fix. Look for the obvious things first.

Let me know what you find.

Have fun!!

Chuck

[debndunk]

Hi Chuck,
Thanks for the info. It was the diaphragm, it was lose so I resealed it and it's fine again.
Hope your keeping well. Gordon

[edisonphonoworks]

I am glad you got it fixed and loose gaskets would make this happen, or loose stylus holder. I have had this happen.

[Chuck]

Gordon,

Glad to hear that it turned out to be a simple
and easy problem to fix! Those thin mica diaphragms
in those recorders get a real workout for sure!
When making loud recordings, sometimes you can hear that
diaphragm banging around in there and it sounds about
like a kazoo...

Doesn't surprise me a bit that some of the old
beeswax would eventually let go, leaving the diaphragm
flapping around in the breeze. Good that you fixed it!

All good for another 100 years!

Chuck