The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

mattrx wrote:Here, Here the small soldering iron from Radio Shack. Great tool addition for my. My 2 cents.
Peter Wall says the bras OSB's sound inferior to the pot metal ones, but did not state why. Full Disclosure: My other 2 cents--I do not own a Brass OSB. Pete was willing to give me one he hated them so badly-of course, he may have been drinking.

Matt

I have a brand new brass orthophonic, one vintage brass and one pot metal, the last two in reasonably good condition. There is no perceptible difference in their outputs. Other factors like condition of diaphragm, rubber back and ball bearings are the relevant differentiators.

Granted that the potmetal OSBs do seem to vary widely in condition. Can't be sure why; whether having been stored in poor conditions, other types of ill treatment over the years, or differences in the composition of the potmetal at different times, or some combination of those factors. The back plate of the one I surrendered for construction of the repro was in very poor condition and almost all the plating had flaked off the front.

Clay

Edisone wrote:It's also "Oriented Strand Board", a replacement for plywood - but that kind of OSB plays records very very poorly. hehe

They made horns out of wood, why not reproducers? An OSB made of OSB wouldn't have the issues associated with pot metal, although termites and carpenter ants may cause other issues not found in the pot metal ones...