The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello Blain, glad to help. Someone out there is bound to have a complete and clear instruction label. Maybe one will pop up. These BC's are hard to deal with because of the Higham reproducer but the machines are not as extremely rare as some people think. The rare part is finding someone that can really reproduce the amber wheel and friction shoe truly competently. I hear a lot of talk about this person and that person making parts.....have never really come across anyone that is doing it other than just tinkering. Very best! Lee

Sitting here nursing a broken foot (can't do much else) I downloaded Lee's BC instructions and cleaned it up a bit.

I created 2 pdf files one will print out the instruction sheet for a double sided printer to create a small 2 page booklet the other
just prints the 2 pages out for single side use. Also a recreation (as close as I could make it) to the Suggestion sheet.
Chuck

I have been fortunate to work with a friend to restore his Columbia BC with a Higham reproducer. The easy part was the horn. Constantly amazed at the workings of the Higham reproducer and we knew enough to not touch it. The end result was a beautiful playing machine but not quite as loud as we expected as we learned in the printed page that Lee sent. The machine is a 2 & 4 minute model and plays both the Columbia indestructible 2 & 4 minute cylinders with a universal stylus. We had no information to work with and really appreciate getting the instruction manual and the letter. We will leave the reproducer well enough alone. I know the individuals that work on this model and can appreciate the talent they must have to restore the reproducer. I will post a video on the CAPS Facebook page so please follow.
Blain

Here is a little "trick" I did with my BC and was extremely surprised how much louder it plays now.

Ream out a Blue Amberol record, collect the dust and using a small paint brush lay the dust on the amber wheel.
You can tell if it will help if it starts to squawk loudly when the amber wheel starts spinning.
I can't believe how much louder my BC plays now.

It may not work for all BC's due to the condition of the wheel or shoe, but it can't do any damage to try.

It didn't help my BM very much at all. It's about as loud as a good restored Model O reproducer, might be all that that one can do.

Chuck