The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Valecnik wrote:George, I had a C250 with plain black bedplate and Duncan mechanism some years back. I've also got a W250 with plan bedplate and Duncan mechanism. It was a featured phono here awhile back. I've also seen at least one B250 with plain black bedplate. I don't think it was altered. Could be Edison again just putting machines together with what's available?

Me too. My C250 has both a Duncan stop and the plain bedplate. And I can say the Duncan stop works quite well. I have read that Edison stopped using them because they proved fussy in the field but mine always worked like a charm. I think the machine was bought originally in 1918.

Jim

tarheeltinkerer wrote:Does anyone have a picture of the reproducer tailweight (I presume the wire from plugs into this somewhere)?

Sure, I'll post a photo tonight or tomorrow. A buddy of mine just arrived for supper...

George P.

Lenoirstreetguy wrote:Me too. My C250 has both a Duncan stop and the plain bedplate. And I can say the Duncan stop works quite well. I have read that Edison stopped using them because they proved fussy in the field but mine always worked like a charm. I think the machine was bought originally in 1918.

Jim

Jim,

That's great - - thanks for the information. Does your C-250's record drawers have individual dividers or sections?

George P.

Here's a pic of the business end of Duncan stop reproducer. You will note from the dust in the hole that I haven't used the stop in quite some time. The Duncan reproducers are designed so that the floating weight is insulated electrically from the body of the reproducer. This is my " best" DD reproducer...that is to say the one with the best original diaphragm. I've got it on the C200 at the moment. Its own machine is in storage. It was my first phonograph and even though it looks like a woodshed fell on it...because one DID fall on it ....I love it irrationally and some day I'll restore it.
Jim.

phonogfp wrote:That's great - - thanks for the information. Does your C-250's record drawers have individual dividers or sections?

George P.

George...The C250 has sections in the drawers. I just saw that you're going to post a pic of the reproducer! I didn't notice that before I sent mine.

Jim

Many thanks for the picture. Interesting system to say the least, although it's interesting that no attempt was made to refine it, or create a more efficient system on Edison's part.

tarheeltinkerer wrote:Many thanks for the picture. Interesting system to say the least, although it's interesting that no attempt was made to refine it, or create a more efficient system on Edison's part.

Not much to refine really, since the stop works quite well as long as the record surface is perfectly level. I suppose a run-out would have expedited the speed of shut-off, but that would have required Edison to conform to the needs of the stop -- not likely!

Lenoirstreetguy wrote:I just saw that you're going to post a pic of the reproducer! I didn't notice that before I sent mine.

Jim

Jim,

No need to apologize - - you saved me the trouble! Thanks again for the C-250 information.

George P.

Your discussion on the automatic stop peaked my interest. I have the stop on my DD250 machine. Examination of the area around the horn (best I can see) reveals a black metal strap on the left rear of the horn compartment. There are two wires hanging down in the area. One goes to a solenoid under the turn table. The other wire threads up into the neck of the horn and down to the reproducer. What type of battery do I use? Do these two wires connect to the pos and neg terminals on the battery? I have an HO transformer. How does a person complete that that connection and how high do you turn the transformer? Duh! [email protected] The Gleemanguy

When I used mine I just hooked it up to a Number 6 dry cell: the large cylindrical old fashioned kind that was used for telephones and doorbells, among other things. One could still buy them at Canadian Tire in those days. They produce 1 ½ volts, that is to say the same as a flashlight D cell, but with a little more ooomph. Two D cells in parallel would probably do the trick quite nicely, no? I don't know what voltage was recommended in the Edison manual but I'm sure some of our learned colleagues must have one....George???

Jim