Edison stylus pin problems

[Edisone]

Related somewhat: I'm watching some yootoob videos of operatic wax Amberols being played on an Amberola 1A, and can see the surfaces change as they pass under the stylus. It's not obvious that damage is being done, but the stylus is definitely doing something to the records.

[pughphonos]

Related somewhat: I'm watching some yootoob videos of operatic wax Amberols being played on an Amberola 1A, and can see the surfaces change as they pass under the stylus. It's not obvious that damage is being done, but the stylus is definitely doing something to the records.

I'm not very familiar with those early, upright Amberolas. But weren't they from the wax Amberol era and therefore equipped with sapphire styli? You'd assume that would be a friendly set-up. Sometimes those wax Amberols have a white sheen after many years that a playing will remove. One would hope that the person who made the Utube videos is not playing wax Amberols with the Diamond B.

Anyway, point well taken. If one is an Edison collector, keeping an eye on record wear is just part of the game. I've been trying to avoid this analogy, but I can't think of a better one: is safe sex truly possible? If you're want to be totally safe, then, no, it isn't. Same way with record wear. Wear is ALWAYS occurring. It's just what level of risk you are willing to accept.

We practice safe record playing in our household. We take all the commonly recognized precautions (check our styli, check our rake angles, make sure compliance is good, etc.) and then just enjoy ourselves.

[52089]

Related somewhat: I'm watching some yootoob videos of operatic wax Amberols being played on an Amberola 1A, and can see the surfaces change as they pass under the stylus. It's not obvious that damage is being done, but the stylus is definitely doing something to the records.

I'm not very familiar with those early, upright Amberolas. But weren't they from the wax Amberol era and therefore equipped with sapphire styli? You'd assume that would be a friendly set-up. Sometimes those wax Amberols have a white sheen after many years that a playing will remove. One would hope that the person who made the Utube videos is not playing wax Amberols with the Diamond B.

I suspect you're watching some of my videos (thesegoto80 on Youtube). Indeed the 1A - with an M reproducer - has a sapphire stylus for 4 minute records. And yes, the white film is what's being removed. I've never had an issue with that reproducer damaging wax records. In some but not all cases, simply rotating the cylinder in the box a few times will lift off some or all of that white haze.

Don't ever pass up wax Amberols just because they have a white surface "bloom". That comes right off and affects nothing.

[phonojim]

No problem here. This is a common thing that I have seen happen many times over the years. I do not have an M but I have been using a round weight O (same thing, different mounting method)for years and have yet to damage any cylinder with it. However it is common to see the white coming off as the cylinder plays. Perfectly harmless. And, if the cylinder is not played again for a long period of time the bloom will reappear. Perhaps chemical outgassing still going on 100 plus years later?
Now, if you're seeing wax dust as the cylinder plays, you have a problem.

52089: Great selection of cylinders. Thanks for posting them.

Jim