First post

[Dischoard]

I actually did an experiment once where I put an Edison Diamond Disc (a really trashed one) into an ultrasonic cleaner full of water and dish soap for 6-8 minutes. There was a little swelling near the cracks but a year and a half later it hasn't melted or fallen apart. In fact it's still playable to this day. I tested it this way because over the years I've had some really, really grungy Diamond Discs and felt that I could use rags dampened with water and sometimes even a trickle of running water. I got lambasted for even <i>talking</i> about it doing that and felt that most people who were telling me that I was absolutely wrong weren't speaking from any kind of experience but rather from their guesses as to what would happen given the water-warning on the DD sleeves. Yes, we've all pulled swollen Diamond Discs out of barns and basements but given my experience with cleaning these with water my guess is that prolonged exposure to moisture is what kills these. I currently have an Edison W&M machine and none of the records that I have used water on (and dried and sleeved) have ever had issues. I've had the machine and most of these records for going on 10 years, still play them, still listen to them. I'll use alcohol on a cloth to clean dust off of them but with caked in dirt I use water.

[JerryVan]

There was a little swelling near the cracks ...

...weren't speaking from any kind of experience but rather from their guesses as to what would happen given the water-warning...

You had some swelling, so I don't suppose they were guessing after all.

[OrthoFan]

... I got lambasted for even <i>talking</i> about it doing that and felt that most people who were telling me that I was absolutely wrong weren't speaking from any kind of experience but rather from their guesses as to what would happen given the water-warning on the DD sleeves. ....

Actually, the "water warning" appeared on the jacket of Diamond Discs, as noted here -- https://www.diamondcut.com/vforum/forum ... e-cleaning

[Choprdoc]

Well it's been a little while. Got the new needles in I ordered. We have been playing one different record just about every evening and we are loving it.

[Dischoard]

There was a little swelling near the cracks ...

...weren't speaking from any kind of experience but rather from their guesses as to what would happen given the water-warning...

You had some swelling, so I don't suppose they were guessing after all.

Sorry, I should be clearer. I was told "the record WILL disintegrate and turn to mush". It still hasn't to this day, still playable even. It was really, really wrecked. Many open sores before I put it through
the treatment. Basically a garbage record. I would NOT subject these to prolonged exposure to water and I would NOT leave them in a damp environment. What I would and have done is use water on non-damaged surfaces to clean really badly stored, dirty discs, and make sure it's dry.

[Dischoard]

... I got lambasted for even <i>talking</i> about it doing that and felt that most people who were telling me that I was absolutely wrong weren't speaking from any kind of experience but rather from their guesses as to what would happen given the water-warning on the DD sleeves. ....

Actually, the "water warning" appeared on the jacket of Diamond Discs, as noted here -- https://www.diamondcut.com/vforum/forum ... e-cleaning
Screenshot 2024-10-14 133842.jpg

I'm sorry, is that not what I said?

[OrthoFan]

... I got lambasted for even <i>talking</i> about it doing that and felt that most people who were telling me that I was absolutely wrong weren't speaking from any kind of experience but rather from their guesses as to what would happen given the water-warning on the DD sleeves. ....

Actually, the "water warning" appeared on the jacket of Diamond Discs, as noted here -- https://www.diamondcut.com/vforum/forum ... e-cleaning
Screenshot 2024-10-14 133842.jpg

I'm sorry, is that not what I said?

At first I thought I must have misread your statement, but thinking back, I was in the process of writing my post when I became distracted and saved my response to finish later. When I came back to it, I misremembered what you wrote, in spite of the fact that it was right there in front of me to read again and typed in my response. I blame this on encroaching senility along with my lifelong battle with dyslexia.

In any event, it seems to me that years ago someone referenced an internal Edison factory memo about the damage done to diamond discs because of improper cleaning with water. I've been culling through the online Edison Phonograph Monthly PDF files, but can't find anything about it there. I'm sure some phonograph archivist probably has it in their records.

By the way, some diamond disc sleeves also carried a warning about playing Edison records on off brand phonographs designed to play all types of records, stating that playing them on an off brand phonograph would void any warranties the record might have, or something along that line.

OrthoFan

[Dischoard]

By the way, some diamond disc sleeves also carried a warning about playing Edison records on off brand phonographs designed to play all types of records, stating that playing them on an off brand phonograph would void any warranties the record might have, or something along that line.

OrthoFan

A record with a warranty?! That's a novel idea, I wonder how long the warranties lasted, I have a few I could turn in

[OrthoFan]

By the way, some diamond disc sleeves also carried a warning about playing Edison records on off brand phonographs designed to play all types of records, stating that playing them on an off brand phonograph would void any warranties the record might have, or something along that line.

OrthoFan

A record with a warranty?! That's a novel idea, I wonder how long the warranties lasted, I have a few I could turn in

I don't what this post string to veer off topic, but here's an example of one of the disclaimers --

Screenshot 2024-11-17 082331.jpg (105.42 KiB) Viewed 504 times

I think most records--probably throughout most eras--had some type of warranty if they didn't play correctly. I remember buying a record from the Sears record department back in the '70s that skipped when I played it. I took it back and got an exchange, and the new one played fine. The same was true with cassettes and CDs, etc..

Also, when you think of what Edison DD records cost when they were sold back in the day -- around $1.00 to $1.50+ -- they weren't exactly cheap. In 1915, for instance, that would have been over $30 in today's money. ( https://www.in2013dollars.com/us/inflation/ ) Victor records ranged in price from $0.75 to several dollars each (Red Seal Records).

Today, the average cost of downloading one song, based on what I've seen, is about $0.99--or about $0.03 in 1915 dollars--but even so, most sites offer troubleshooting advice if it won't play after you download it.

OrthoFan