The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Thank you George and Sean for answering that
question about the model M reproducer.

Some day, when I am able to find one, I am planning
on obtaining an Amberola 1A with an M reproducer.

I also have an M with a round weight and have seen others.

Jim

The M reproducer in my lyre-grill Amberola 1A has a round weight as well.

I should have added that mine is also from a lyre front 1A.

Sean

Another odd thing about these since we're on the topic;

I think they all had nickeled weights both round and trowel, while the L and the Diamond A always had oxidised weights. Anybody have an M with an oixidized weight?

Hi All,
My steel or brass body O came with a round weight which I had Steve Medved change to the trowel type when he rebuilt it. My m is in an area I can not get to until I finish a project but I think it has a round weight but will check in a few days for its shape and finish.
Allen

My M also has a round weight, for what it is worth. I have an oak Opera. Marc.

I guess we've established that round-weight M Reproducers are not unusual, and that poor old George simply suffered a brief lapse!

Here's the M that lives here on a lyre-grille 1A.

George P.

Thank you again George for posting the picture
of your trowel weighted model M reproducer.

I guess this clearly shows that if someone
really wants to do it thoroughly and properly,
that an Edison Amberola 1A machine would need
to have both the heavy and the light varieties
of model M reproducers handy.

I wonder if the trowel weight variety suffers
by any noticeable amount from the blasting which
can start up in very loudly recorded spots?

That seems to be one of the limitations when
weight starts being removed. It reaches a point
where blasting becomes a problem.

I've never owned a trowel weight M or O (my O is also round weight), but I can at least share my experience on wear. I've not noticed anything more than what would be expected, which honestly is mostly nil. I have a couple of dozen really clean, nearly mint, rather rare 2 minute wax cylinders in my 1A that I play regularly. Sophie Tucker, Marie Dressler, William Taft, things like that. These are certainly premium quality and I've watched carefully. The Dressler in particular ("Marie Dressler's Working Girl Song") is a favorite of mine, I've probably played it 500 times and it still looks and sounds perfect. I wouldn't worry too much about the heavier weight. 4 minute wax is likely another story, I've got a few nice ones that get played now and then carefully, but probably not enough to cause any real wear. I picked up a Diamond A for Blue Amberols, they just sound superior played with that, especially with Wyatt Markus' new diaphragm that he just recently installed when he was at my house a couple weeks ago.

Sean