The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Thanks for the comment, Lucius.

Not only have we considered building a diaphragm for a cylinder reproducer, we have already started the process of doing so. After hearing the first few tests of the Diamond Disc diaphragms, John and I discussed the possibility of producing diaphragms for many different reproducers. Now that a final design for the Diamond Disc reproducer has been reached, we have decided to begin development on the Diamond B reproducer.

Obviously we have just started the design/testing part of the process regarding the Diamond B. Hopefully we can follow the same methods used to develop the Diamond Disc diaphragm throughout it's development and achieve a similar result of great overall sound for the Diamond B. The preliminary testing of the first design went well similar to those of the early Diamond Disc diaphragm tests. Hopefully the Diamond B diaphragm will be finished sooner rather than later and we will be sure to let everyone know when that time comes for those interested.

I mentioned that we are working on a diaphragm for the Diamond B reproducer. For those interested in the progress, here is a video of the first test made this morning. Again, for the best sound quality be sure to change to 1080HD at the bottom right hand corner of the video.

[youtubehd]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZpmOy-cD_s[/youtubehd]

I think you succeeded in making Billy Murray sound MORE annoying You sure you had the speed right? He sounds like he's singing through his nose.

It may be a bit fast. Come to think of it, I didn't check the speed before recording the first two videos. We use a digital tachometer to adjust the correct speed but haven't on this particular machine. I will be sure to check it tonight and if it's off, will make a few more videos. In the meantime, here is the second video. (May be fast as well.)

[youtubehd]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfBf4awbJqE[/youtubehd]

Jeff has re-built my Edisonic reproducer.

The sounds I hear now didn't exist with the reproducer before the rebuild.

The sounds are crisp. clear. distinct. No distortions. I believe he is on the right track in extracting sounds from the Diamonds Discs that haven't been heard in many years. He is now working on diaphragms for the cylinder machines. Look at his YouTube site: Bradafelcher.

Sounds very good, do you use sorbothane gaskets? This might increase the fidelity even further to get rid of standing waves. I have use sorbothane on early motors for the mountings, to rid vibrations, and it works well Rich Goodin experimented with this. How would these new diaphragm designs work if made for Edison recorders? I have thought about a domed titanium diaphragm, design, that has a round domed center (the dome facing upwards, for high frequency, and a corrogated middle, on an angle radially like sun rays, then a rounded beading around the edge, connected to a sorbothane gasket that the titanium diaphragm is suspended in, like the surround on a woofer, the gasket is suspending the diaphragm, like the Ediphone gaskets where it has no danger of touching the sides of the diaphragm cup. One key to rebulding an Edison DD reproducer is to not clamp the retainer ring down, it should go down just enough to stop it from buzzing, but not so tight as to hamper the bass response.

We have tried literally hundreds of designs using dozens of material including hand made gaskets of just about everything under the sun! : ) Sorbothane has a durometer density of about 30 and I can say that we have experimented with materials that have a lower density as well as those with much higher density. We have chosen a gasket that does it's job to dampen vibrations and keep them from reaching the walls of the reproducer, which as you mentioned, is one of the many important steps to achieving the best sound possible.

I am not sure how these would work to record and would be interested to find out. I will say that while doing extensive research in the beginning, I read everything I could get my hands on regarding the recording head used to record. In the patents for this recording apparatus, the gaskets claimed were in a sort of "semi-liquid" state and could only be used to record for a short time. (A matter of hours if I recall correctly.) At that time they would need replace. The reason for using a gasket that is so soft is to allow the recording diaphragm to move ever so slightly if the recording stylus dug in for any reason. This would allow for a constant and smooth recording without any harsh spots. The gaskets were made of some sort of melted rubber mixture that would stay in a gelatin or "liquid state due to the chemicals included for an extended period of time. I will dig up the patent to post as it describes things far better than I am probably doing! : )

It would be interesting to know how our diaphragms would fare for recording. That thought has crossed my mind many times over the last 5 months or so.

I believe the "semi-liquid" material you referenced is what is more recently called "Viscous damping". It was somewhat regularly used on latter electrical phono pick-ups of the crystal and ceramic types. A material kinda in-between a liquid and a solid, yet does not run. Technology must have devised a way to make it fairly stable to be incorporated into later products.

Wow, this is amazing. Can't wait to see how this turns out.

Hello All:
I received my rebuilt reproducer via priority mail yesterday (Dec 5th) and am happy to say that it was worth the wait. With my C19 I'd made a test recording with the original diaphragm with new gaskets before sending it to SonnyPhono for his rebuild, and then compared it to a new recording of the same record done yesterday. There's quite an increase in volume with no blasting, and a clearer, more forward sound in the the mid and upper ranges, IMO. The infamous Edison surface noise, apparent in so many pressings, is still there, but with less of the lower rumble that seems to enshroud everything with the older diaphragm.
I requested that the original diaphragm be returned, and it was, packed nicely in a separate container.
I've really enjoyed listening to some favorite discs, and I'm glad I had it done.
I'm hoping that others who have waited for their rebuilds will enjoy theirs too and share their opinions also.
Bob B.