The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I just picked up a set of the headphone-style listening tubes at the Stanton auction similar to the ones Shane posted, and they actually sound pretty good. Definitely too loud with the volume turned all the way up, though!

Actually, I think the sound quality you get is better than any horn. You more or less hear the recording straight from the reproducer without depending on horn shape & size for amplification, and you dont hear near as much surface noise either.

Here is a volume control used for edison cylinder players and probably any other cylinder players. I have asked for help finding information on it, but no luck. I have spent several hours searching patents from 1899 - 1915 anything to do with phonographs and have not found it. It is clearly a volume control and I have seen two others on the internet but that is it.

EdisonPhonographGuy:
That control looks most interesting. It would be interesting to compare the sound quality of a control such as yours to those used in the Diamond Disks.

Good luck with your search for information.

Kevin