Edison Reproducer Weight Question

[fourforty]

This question relates to Edison external horn machines...

There seems to be a general consensus on the forum that the best Edison reproducer for playing celluloid cylinders on external horn machines is the Diamond B. Therefore my Edison machine should already have or be retrofitted with a reproducer carriage to accept the Diamond B. This would be a horizontal carriage having the large eye.

So given this hardware arrangement, I would also be interested in having the best reproducer for playing 2 minute black wax cylinders. Edison made two compatible reproducers engineered for the horizontal carriage, the Model O and the Model S. Both have the larger reproducer body for improved fidelity.

It seems to me that in order to best preserve the 2 minute wax cylinder, the preferable reproducer would have the lowest tracking weight. So here I finally get to my question:

Which weighs the least, a Model O with the trowel shaped weight?,
or a Model S plus adapter ring for fitting in the large carriage eye?


If any collector out there has the hardware in hand and could weigh it, this inquiring mind would really like to know.
Thanks to all, David

[martinola]

Hi David.
I'm not up on the differences of reproducer weights, but I thought I'd express that as far as two minute reproduction goes, my model S doesn't really out perform my model C reproducers. Not much difference in volume and I'd say the model Cs sound slightly clearer. That might be ascribed to the double styli and stuff on the model S and the fact that the model Cs were "tuned" more recently than my model S. I don't have an "O" so I can't help you much there. I'll be interested to see what others have to say.
Regards,
Martin

[FloridaClay]

I don't have an S. My O weighs 4.1 oz.

Clay

[fourforty]

Thanks for the replies so far.

Another thought just occurred to me. The lowest tracking force scenario would be an S reproducer riding in the "small eye" horizontal carriage. This was the standard arrangement for the Model F Standard. That carriage might only fit the Standard and not other Edisons. Would that be correct Martin?

In this case one one would be switching carriage/reproducer assemblies from "celluloid" (Diamond B/large eye carriage) to "black wax" (Model S/small eye carriage). Perhaps not that much more involved than just switching out reproducers.
David

[FloridaClay]

If you want a horizontal carriage, simpler to just get the horizontal carriage with the larger "eye" and use an adopter ring when switching to a, for example, model C. This also gets you good to go if you want to pick up something like a Model B in the future.

Also bear in mind that using one of the smaller diameter reproducers may loose the sound quality improvement you get with the larger diameter ones, like an O or B.

Clay

[phonojim]

First, let me throw a wrench into the situation: you cannot use a model S with an adapter ring. It won't drop down far enough into the ring to operate properly. An S is made to fit a small eye angled carriage only. It is basically a K bottom works attached to an upper works designed to allow the use of a large diaphragm in a small carriage. As far as sound quality, I find that my S outperforms my C & H reproducers hands down. All of the reproducers being compared have been restored top to bottom including stylus rotation or replacement where needed.

Jim

[FloridaClay]

I will certainly take your word for that Jim, never personably having laid eyes on an S. Didn't realize it was something of a hybrid.

Clay

[fourforty]

Thanks for your feedback Jim. Do you happen to have a Model O reproducer? Since your Model S performs so well, I would love to hear how it compares to an O. In this previous forum thread, members have said how much the O was improved from the previous B & C reproducers:

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... 1&start=10

However, the Model S was not part of the discussion at that time. I have seen it written that according to Steve Medved the S is not as loud as the C, due to the extra stylus bar.

What models had the S reproducer in an angled carriage? I only know of it in the horizontal carriage (Model F Standard).
David

[FloridaClay]

David. Thanks so much for that thread link. Really happy to now have the original instructions for my Model O.

Clay