The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I'm curious about the lever at the right end of the feedscrew. As it's attached to the rocker button(s), I would assume it functions as a 'pause' button, to lift the stylus off the cylinder, and disengage the feedscrew. Is there a linkage missing?

(Yes, I know what they say about the word "Assume" ...)

Bill

The rocker originally had two gutta percha buttons, one marked "ON" and the other marked "OFF." Pressing the "OFF" button disengages the mandrel at the upper pulley, but the motor will continue to run. It does not raise the reproducer/recorder either, but because the entire feed mechanism is still engaged, the stopping/stopping is fairly instantaneous.

All Type C Graphophones have this feature, which was a holdover from the Bell/Tainter designs.

George P.

The arm connected to this valve and allowed the user to disengage the mandrel with a foot petal.
A rubber hose ran from the foot pedal to the tube on the valve. It attached to the front edge of the chassis with the thumb screw.


Your lid would have a small slot with a nickel plate on the end if it had this option installed.

Chuck