Edison Model O Reproducer Instructions

[phonojim]

Jim, Thanks for sharing this. I'm a long time O owner and fan and it's very interesting to see these instructions.

To SBH: While you can play celluloid cylinders with a sapphire reproducer, the harder surface will accelerate stylus wear. That's the biggest reason why I play celluloid cylinders only with a diamond reproducer. Also, especially with the early direct-recorded BAs, an Edison diamond reproducer will showcase the excellent sound of these recordings in a way that nothing else will.

Jim

[GeorgeG]

And here is a scan of an original O brochure/instructions.

[GeorgeG]

and the other side.

[Valecnik]

The difference in Sound quality between the earlier C,H,K, and the O, or it's cousin the M for the Amberola 1A is really unbelievable.

I agree that the Diamond A & B do an even better job on celluloid cylinders but the O and the M also do pretty well. The Diamond C should sound just as good as an A or B if it weren't for that it was only coupled with the much smaller horns of the Amberolas 30, 50 & 75.

[gregbogantz]

Richard, the 4-minute stylus assembly on the Edison models O and M is the same sapphire tip design as that used on the earlier 4-minute reproducers such as the H. As mentioned earlier, these O and M reproducers predated the blue amberols and used the only 4-minute Edison stylus design available at the time of their introduction. These earlier 4-minute sapphire designs use the "rotated" doorknob shaped stylus, rotated 90 degrees from the desirable orientation of the elliptical shape of the 2-minute doorknob design used on the model C. This rotated orientation was required for the stylus to fit the narrower groove of the 4-minute records while still presenting a fairly large contact patch to the record in order to reduce record wear on the wax amberols. But the downside of this orientation is that it causes significantly more tracing error due to the enlarged scanning radius which results in poorer high frequency response. The more durable celluloid BA records could support the tracking force of a spherical tip, so the styli of the Diamond A, B, C, and D reproducers produce better high frequency performance.

Bruce, I agree with you completely about the superiority of the models O and M (and L) over the sound of the earlier Edison models. In fact, the O and M produce the BEST sound available from a commercially available reproducer for the playback of 2-minute records. When an M is used in an Amberola 1A with its superior horn design (the best of any Edison), you will hear the BEST reproduction of a 2-minute record that can be had from original equipment. Likewise, a Diamond A in an Amberola 1A or 1B is the best sound you can get from 4-minute records. Your YouTube videos provide convincing evidence of this quality. Using a superior diaphragm helps a lot, too. Thanks for posting them.

[VintageTechnologies]

Is the 4 minute side of the "O" suitable for playing both 4 minute wax cylinders as well as the celluloid ones?

I also see that the leaflet refers to the point on the 4 minute side as being sapphire - I thought it would of been a diamond.

The "O" was designed for wax records, several years before Edison began making celluloid cylinders. That being said, I will not play my fragile 4 minute wax cylinders using the "O" due to rapid record wear from its heavier floating weight. I play 4 minute wax records using only an "H" or a "K" reproducer, even though they don't sound as good as the "O". The later "O" reproducers had a lighter triangle-shaped weight, to reduce record wear. Although I will occasionally play 2 minute wax cylinders using my "O", I mostly play the Indestructible cylinders with it.

Both the 2 and 4 minute stylii were made of sapphire.

[need4art]

OK,so as I read this my mind keeps going back to the question-should I not play BA cylinders with my Edison Triumph D and model O and just put them on my Amberola 50-which does not sound as good...or is that loud. Or inquiring minds ask how fast will the model O in the 4 min. mode "wear out"

I do play a lot of BA's
Abe

[VintageTechnologies]

OK,so as I read this my mind keeps going back to the question-should I not play BA cylinders with my Edison Triumph D and model O and just put them on my Amberola 50-which does not sound as good...or is that loud. Or inquiring minds ask how fast will the model O in the 4 min. mode "wear out"

Why not swap out the "O" with a Diamond "B" reproducer to play BA's on your Triumph? That would sound better than an "O". I also would like to know how long a sapphire stylus would last playing celluloid cylinders.

[penman]

That's exactly what I do sometimes, play the BA's with a Diamond B in the Triumph, but I still think the sound is better with my O (although that may just be the B's gasket). It's easier to change a worn stylus (although a little expensive on an O) than find a good replacement record.

[phonojim]

Your Diamond B may need a rebuild. It should play BAs with better fidelity than an O will do. Actually, from what I have personally observed, the full potential of Edison's four minute cylinders could not be appreciated until the advent of the BA and diamond reproducer.

I have the trowel-shaped weight on my O because of the wear factor on four minute wax cylinders. I have very few of them and those I do have are particular favorites some of which were never pressed as BAs. I don't believe the heavier weight of the original O was a problem for 2 minute cylinders with their larger grooves and styli but Edison was aiming at reducing stylus pressure (and, therefore wear) on the too-fragile 4 minute wax records.

Jim