The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

De Soto Frank,

I have had very good luck with one of his belts on an Edison Standard Model D.

In fact I have recorded over 700 video's on this machine with this belt, and have never had a single problem.
The Standard works very well with little discernable "wow" or "flutter".

http://www.youtube.com/user/2minuteAlbanyArchive/videos

http://www.youtube.com/user/zwebiejazz/videos

On the other hand, I purchased a "Triumph" belt which didn't work. It was too long, and after all possible adjustments, it was still loose and would slip. (I went back to a leather belt on the Triumph).

Well, mixed results, but they're fairly cheap, and might be worth trying on your machine.

Good Luck, Bob S.

I too tried one for a Triumph, fiddled around with it for some time and went back to the leather which works much better.

I have used the rubber belt for the Columbia BK, it was about $ 15.00. It was great for about a year or two, then it starts to stretch or slip. As far as the Edison Home, there is just too much messing around with removing the pulley to get it around it.

I prefer leather belts although they tend to be somewhat fluttery.

Rubber belts work ok for shavers but I prefer leather belts for Phonographs, although a standard would go well with a leather belt. The leather though that was used 110 years ago though was thinner and more pliable than the belts of today, and Stratena was used to glue them together, Stratena bends easier than elmer's glue or super glue.

De Soto Frank, I hear you (re. frustrations about flutter on your Triumph), so am following these discussions about belting with interest. I've owned a Triumph since 2011 and it's brought me largely nothing but disappointment ever since as I am also sensitive to flutter. Tomorrow I'm mailing its governor off to George Vollema for either repair or replacement. If that doesn't solve my problem, I'll probably fuss with the belt a bit (I appear to have the original leather belt). If it wasn't for a patient member of this forum who has PMed me with detailed suggestions, I probably would have given up on belt machines by about now (I'm the one who started the string about converting my Amberola V to 2m capability--but then backed off). In the past ten days, as I've attempted to save my Triumph from my own anger, I have learned tons more. Last night I figured out how to get the governor out--which is a huge step for me. Now I don't have to ship the entire motor board in.

Anyway, hang in there!!!

Ralph