Mystery Phono ID (56k unfriendly)

[JohnM]

The Victor Talking Machine Company essentially controlled the lateral disc phonograph industry in the US until their fundamental patents expired through 1916 and 1917. After that, anyone could build and sell lateral disc phonographs in the US without fear of being sued into bankruptcy by Victor's legal department. Dozens (actually hundreds) of companies sprang up and entered the market. Yours is one from that era. The correct patent date on the brake would be 1918, not 1908.

[nsjames]

very good info there. I will adjust my patent search and hopefully come up with something.

[JohnM]

very good info there. I will adjust my patent search and hopefully come up with something.

Allen Koenigsberg publishes 'The Patent History of the Phonograph which is a goldmine of information. I believe his website is www.apmpress.com. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

[OrthoFan]

very good info there. I will adjust my patent search and hopefully come up with something.

If you haven't already seen it, this site may be a good starting place -- http://www.phonozoic.net/patents/index.html

(The patents are listed by year -- see box in upper right corner.)

[nsjames]

very good info there. I will adjust my patent search and hopefully come up with something.

If you haven't already seen it, this site may be a good starting place -- http://www.phonozoic.net/patents/index.html

(The patents are listed by year -- see box in upper right corner.)

goldmine

I found this:
http://patimg1.uspto.gov/.piw?Docid=01268008&idkey=NONE

the date matcheas, and it's an automatic brake mechanism. it sure looks like mine.
I'm going to see if I can't find some better drawings.

[nsjames]

Some video of the player that I took before the adjustments. Sadly I've botched the speed control and I'll have to take it apart again to make more adjustments.

[estott]

Hard to tell from that video but I think all it needs is a proper soundbox rebuild-otherwise it's a nice quality machine.

[Phototone]

I'm going to use a model airplane engine tachometer to adjust it to an exact 80 RPM when the arm is adjusted to that on the scale.

You DO KNOW that 80 is only the AVERAGE speed for records of the vintage of your machine. Victors were nominally 78rpm, but varies. In fact, the actual recording speed varied all over the place. Columbias had a stated speed of 80 rpm.

[OrthoSean]

I'm going to use a model airplane engine tachometer to adjust it to an exact 80 RPM when the arm is adjusted to that on the scale.

You DO KNOW that 80 is only the AVERAGE speed for records of the vintage of your machine. Victors were nominally 78rpm, but varies. In fact, the actual recording speed varied all over the place. Columbias had a stated speed of 80 rpm.

I certainly do know that! I'm not sure how I was quoted as saying the above, trust me, it wasn't me!

I do all kinds of audio transfer work and believe me, to play almosy any "78" pre-1930 at exactly 78 or 80 is way off base. Even Edison DDs have speed variations, for example, any electrics with a matrix number above 19xxx play at 78, not 80. There are many acoustic DDs that also play below 80 and others that play above.

The best way to determine playback speeds for almost any record is to use a pitch pipe and, of course, your ear.

Sean