The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Here is a photo of a rare Horsley Automatic reproducer. I have been searching for one for years with no success. The company was located in Bayonne, New Jersey. They were also big in the motion picture industry.

fmblizz wrote: Sun Jun 04, 2023 11:52 am Enclosed is a couple pictures of a reproducer that came on a early Zonophone Model "A" which also had it's original leather elbow. This reproducer "Standard Sound Box" was discussed in a thread a few years back. A special bonus was the reproducer came with it's original wood box along with the Philadelphia dealers label attached.. The reproducer looks very similar to the Gibson "New Centry" upgrade which was invented by Robert Gibson to improve the inferior sound of the Closed Faced soundbox normally supplied with these early Zonophone machines. As I understand it, Gibson then sold the rights to the reproducer to Johnson which then ultimately became the Exhibition reproducer after a little more tweeking.

Please if anyone has further information or corrections on my description please do not hesitate to jump in and reply to this post.

blizz

Wow!!! I love this one.

Manufacturer unknown to me.

Theory seems to be to produce a "stereo" effect by having 2 diaphragms. one stylus bar is slightly longer than the other!

That is the most interesting reproducer I have seen so far! Incredible

These posts are getting better and better. Keep them coming.

I have been going through my parts boxes and came up with this one. By the look of the inside of the diaphragm, you would think it is for a Rigid Arm Victor. But, the spacing on the back is for the rubber flange. I have always thought that it would be stamped "For Tapered Arm" if it took the rubber flange.

Lots of amazing reproducers for sure. Here are some of my oddball ones:

Reproducer with large diaphragm to fit an Edison small opening carriage. This reproducer was said to have come from the Edison estate and possible be a prototype or working model of the S reproducer. I have no proof of that. There is a "weight", but it is spring loaded and you change between 2 and 4 minutes styli by turning the knurled knob.

Edison Model L reproducer - No serial number, has a spring for stylus pressure and is not oxidized. Unsure if a prototype of some kind. No serial number.

Edison Model K reproducer - Same as typical Model K, only difference is the weight is stamped Combination K instead of Combination Model K

Horsley Automatic Edison Reproducer - Very rare.

Edison Model J - 2 minute variant. Usually a 4-minute reproducer. Was said these were used on some coin-op phonographs

Edison Gem B w/ Glass Horn and Henry Seymour attachment, which includes the arm designed to fit a Gem and the reproducer. The Diaphragm is celluloid.

Lambert Combination Attachment for Edison Model B Home - Uses a Matthews Reproducer. Has a spider stylus assembly.

Fletecher Automatic Edison Reproducer - Rare variation with added weight. Most have typical Automatic tail weight.

Blackman Automatic Edison Reproducer - Has a modified spring-loaded weight. Most have typical Automatic tail weight.

Those are great. I thought Richard was the only one with a Horsley. This thread is getting pretty interesting. Keep them coming.

Thanks Ken. Actually, the Horsley in Rich's photo is mine.

There was a short lived generation of reproducers from German producers with an attached stylus bar guard. I have seen a few different manufacturer / names on the reproducers and an assortment of stylus protector shapes.