The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

It seems that these kinds of cylinders are hard to come by in good shape, the flat end, not titled Gold Moulded records. They were wrapped in batting just like the brown wax, so are most of the time moldy. They seemed to be more fragile too, the ribs inside are thicker, and the playing surface thin, so they are easily cracked. For the most part the arrangements are about the same as a brown wax, and many are in the 7000-8000 range catalog numbers. They come in a grey background with red writing, which I think also some late brown waxes were in. They were made from November 1901 to 1904, so they did not have a long production run. Are they any more valuable if they are found in good shape? I think they are pretty neat. One thing I had seen that I think was rare was an Edison regular gold moulded record with a spiral core like a brown wax. In all my record surfing I have only seen one, how about others? I found it really odd. What is also odd the production notes for Gold Moulded records from 1904 mention that it took one minute longer to make the non titled records than it did for title end moulded records.

edisonphonoworks wrote:It seems that these kinds of cylinders are hard to come by in good shape, the flat end, not titled Gold Moulded records. They were wrapped in batting just like the brown wax, so are most of the time moldy. They seemed to be more fragile too, the ribs inside are thicker, and the playing surface thin, so they are easily cracked. For the most part the arrangements are about the same as a brown wax, and many are in the 7000-8000 range catalog numbers. They come in a grey background with red writing, which I think also some late brown waxes were in. They were made from November 1901 to 1904, so they did not have a long production run. Are they any more valuable if they are found in good shape? I think they are pretty neat. One thing I had seen that I think was rare was an Edison regular gold moulded record with a spiral core like a brown wax. In all my record surfing I have only seen one, how about others? I found it really odd. What is also odd the production notes for Gold Moulded records from 1904 mention that it took one minute longer to make the non titled records than it did for title end moulded records.

I may possibly have a black Gold Molded cylinder with a spiral core, that sounds vaguely familiar. I never gave it much thought. I also have a few with a smooth core, no ribs at all; those tend to slip loose on the madrel easier than ribbed cylinders and I was always afraid to shove one on very hard for fear of splitting it.

VintageTechnologies wrote: I also have a few with a smooth core, no ribs at all; those tend to slip loose on the madrel easier than ribbed cylinders and I was always afraid to shove one on very hard for fear of splitting it.

Yes, I'd been curious about the smooth core cylinders: when I checked those I have, they generally seemed to cluster about 1906 (iirc)... I wonder what the rationale was for this type.

Bill

Lucius1958 wrote:

VintageTechnologies wrote: I also have a few with a smooth core, no ribs at all; those tend to slip loose on the madrel easier than ribbed cylinders and I was always afraid to shove one on very hard for fear of splitting it.

Yes, I'd been curious about the smooth core cylinders: when I checked those I have, they generally seemed to cluster about 1906 (iirc)... I wonder what the rationale was for this type.

Bill

Edison was forced to manufacture smooth core cylinders for a short time as a result of litigation from the old New York Phonograph Company. This was the same litigation that resulted in the Model C type Phonographs lacking endgates. As soon as the old contract between New York Phonograph and Edison expired, Edison reverted to spiral-core cylinders, but the new Phonograph design was seen as an improvement.

George P.

estott wrote: Sun Jan 13, 2013 5:56 pm Some of the early Edison moulded black cylinders have the Edison signature on the side of the record near the grooves, and the title impressed in shallow lettering. They can be missed if the surface is clouded.

i have a cylinder just like this with a cloudy surface. it also has a number and the edison trademark.