The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Here is another one.

Very nice branded case example. Mine is 31792.

This is another of the "special" ones for which someone ought to compile data.

Another picture

One suggestion given to me by an Edison repair guy was this - if you need to quiet noisy gears, try brushing on STP oil treatment straight out of the container. Its thick and sticks to the gears causing a cushioning effect. I have used it on several machines and noticed a difference...

PeterF wrote:Note that this stylus is for brown wax cylinders and not black wax - all 2-minute only, of course.

So what happens if you play a black wax cylinder on this machine? Does it damage the cylinder? the stylus? I don't have any brown wax cylinders but I might have a black wax cylinder that I could sacrifice just to hear this play. Wouldn't want to do that if it will damage the stylus.

Cliff

I have played black wax cylinders on my Branded Case Gem with no problem. However, 2 min. indestructible cylinders will not play right for this machine. A really difficult accessory to find is the matching Gem recorder. Like what others said these are for playing an occasional record, and mostly for display. They are collector grade machines.
Harvey Kravitz

[quote="PeterF"] I also don't happen to know if this was the initial configuration, on the earlier/original "drip-pan" Gem.

Hi All- the Drip-pan reproducer is built into the carriage and is not removable-- Very different than the reproducer on the Gem pictured here--

re: being noisy-- Yes- Gems are often noisy, but sometimes it is simply a function of the small gear that is on the end of the governor shaft being worn. Try trading out the shaft with one from a machine that runs quietly-- OR-- as was the case with a Maroon Gem I have that was extremely noisy (--a very loud hum--) I bought a repro governor shaft from Ron Sitko-- It was like magic- The hum virtually disappeared. In my experience, most noise comes from the small gears that are turning the fastest (make sense). I've since replaced the governor shaft in a Model A Gem and it is much, much quieter.

Brad Abell

outune wrote:

PeterF wrote: I also don't happen to know if this was the initial configuration, on the earlier/original "drip-pan" Gem.

Hi All- the Drip-pan reproducer is built into the carriage and is not removable-- Very different than the reproducer on the Gem pictured here--

re: being noisy-- Yes- Gems are often noisy, but sometimes it is simply a function of the small gear that is on the end of the governor shaft being worn. Try trading out the shaft with one from a machine that runs quietly-- OR-- as was the case with a Maroon Gem I have that was extremely noisy (--a very loud hum--) I bought a repro governor shaft from Ron Sitko-- It was like magic- The hum virtually disappeared. In my experience, most noise comes from the small gears that are turning the fastest (make sense). I've since replaced the governor shaft in a Model A Gem and it is much, much quieter.

Brad Abell

finaly someone who sees the same as i do
most collectors say the gem is a noisy machine nothing can be done about it
mostly however its indeed the govenor with a worn gear
a gem with a new spring, mint or new gearing, new govenor weights and springs, aswell as new rubbers under the base will run as quiet as can be


greetings
tino