The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

That blank does look really nice. The color as shown in your photo appears to be absolutely perfect. And the fine inner spirals are a good hint against anyone who would try to sell them as originals.
Have you any plans to show up once again at the Wayne show? The next one will be next weekend, btw.

I am sure almost anyone has had fun with postal services. It can be quite frustrating when they smash your work. From a collector's perspective it is even more frustrating when an old and therefore usually irreplaceable record gets destroyed. That it also a reason why I also prefer direct purchases over mailing when it comes to fragile items.

Just out of curiosity, have you made any concert blanks yet?

edisonphonoworks wrote:Mr. Starkton, I want to see your wonderful new blanks!

Thank you for the invitation but I am not inclined to step into your field of business

I have an interesting document from 1896 with a "trade secret" how to melt and mould Edison blanks in my collection. Perhaps you already know it, in any case I share it with you:

Starkton, Thank You for this information. This is very interesting, because the procedure is the same as the procedure I have developed on my own, well almost similar, except that my old faithful mold, works in opposite, where the core is removed with a t handle extractor first then the blank shrinks and is removed from the mold tube. I do have a cap on the top, that makes a wax plug that is cut off just like this procedure. The new molds I am working on, may well work in this manner, as it is more like the mold described. The seasoning is very important, the wax has to settle before it is shaved, it hardens a bit, and shrinks and warps somewhat. This is important as to not be rushed. I find too it is best to let the rough castings sit about two or three weeks before finishing, although I usually shape the ends, and then season them, and finish boring them out, and shave later. The caster oil, is dangerous though. And I have used graphite, (I find taking a cotton ball, and thin coat does not impart enough to foul the wax, I have also tried teflon spray, and even adult personal lubricant (which works well.) This is why I do not want to try castor oil (from Wiki) The castor seed contains ricin, a toxic protein. Harvesting castor beans is not without risk.[6] Allergenic compounds found on the plant surface can cause permanent nerve damage, making the harvest of castor beans a human health risk. India, Brazil, and China are the major crop producers, and the workers suffer harmful side effects from working with these plants.[7] These health issues, in addition to concerns about the toxic byproduct (ricin) from castor oil production, have encouraged the quest for alternative sources for hydroxy fatty acids.