French Aerophone

[walser]

Hi Wayne,

My bet is that it was attached with the red piece to the elbow using a sort of clamp ring like the yellow one I draw.

The red part and blue one are attached using two small screws and nuts and a washer that where so rusted that felled apart during the restoration.

Best regards,

Pedro

[Papycoup]

Hi, Pedro, I'm back...
and just received the catalog from Jalal Aro...
Did you receive yours ?
Did you notice that the setscrew of the soundbox neck is aside and not above the tone arm ?

This should put the part on your photo 20140914_200634.jpg on the top of the arm... a bit more logical to hang the asm ?

Rgds,

Pierre

[Papycoup]

Hi, everybody,

the building of my new asm has not yet started, but I have got back the original part for checking.

I was half right about the design of that elbow.

Have a look to the pictures, the remaining pot metal at the top is clean cut so it should be genuine. It is shorter than the bottom sleeve. It is angled cut.
The remaining pot metal at the bottom sleeve is rounded and longer.

We can also see a remaining part of a lateral hole.

Things to think to...

See my modified drawing, the measurements are written on.

The tapped holes are to retain the cuff in place, they are now usefulness because of the inflating of the pot metal.
Note that the original part could have been reworked to receive the cuff, so I cannot guess anything about the outside design.

[walser]

Hi Pierre,

Can you past pictures of the outside of the elbow? That brass ring looks genuine because it has a recess on the lip and that might be done for matching the "red part" I have.

Thanks!

[Papycoup]

Hi, Pedro,

please, be confident on what I was telling you,
That brass tube is a repair following an elbow pot metal breakdown.
A hole is plugged, corresponding to nothing...
There is not any mark of former plating; this could not be an acceptable original design.

Finding the original design looks like a scientific police investigation...

And there is not a lot of people to post on this topic....

[gramophone78]

Hi, Pedro,

please, be confident on what I was telling you,
That brass tube is a repair following an elbow pot metal breakdown.
A hole is plugged, corresponding to nothing...
There is not any mark of former plating; this could not be an acceptable original design.

Finding the original design looks like a scientific police investigation...

And there is not a lot of people to post on this topic....

I would try to see if you can locate the patent application with the drawings. This maybe available (for a small fee), in a PDF format. Many countries are coming on line with this type of documentation.

Maybe the French Patent office or archive would be a good start...??.

[Papycoup]

You should be right, and I already looked for in that way.. It seems that "INPI" tracks only patents on industrial procedures and not all models of items built.
The only match I can find for the moment on "AEROPHONE" is a method of producing film coating on discus for sound an other uses...
The long way to the truth...

[walser]

Hi, Pedro,

please, be confident on what I was telling you,
That brass tube is a repair following an elbow pot metal breakdown.
A hole is plugged, corresponding to nothing...
There is not any mark of former plating; this could not be an acceptable original design.

Finding the original design looks like a scientific police investigation...

And there is not a lot of people to post on this topic....

Looking at the pictures, I can confirm that my elbow casting is slightly different. For example, it does not have the stop screw on the bottom to secure the pivot screw. I have measured and compared it with your drawing and it varies +-2 mm in some places. So I think that it might be at least two different versions of the elbow similar as we have seen with the Paillard motors.

Did you managed to get the elbow machined? I'm still trying to find someone to build the horn replica and not wanting a horrendous amount of money.

Regards,

Pedro

[Papycoup]

Hi Pedro,

Keep in mind that the written measurements are approximated, due to the inflating pot metal.
The MUST measurements were taken on the valve, and on the crane, to be sure to get a correct working of the asm.
The set screw could have been replaced by a locking nut in some versions...
Don't forget the remaining trace of an horizontal hole.

The engineer who I have given the job for the elbow is retired... but still help his son who owns the society now... He is allowed to use the machines to make parts for friends... He has now other things to do, and I must Wait...

I'll keep you informed.

Rgds,

Pierre

[walser]

Hi Pierre,

I've found on ebay another Aerophone and its clearly stated on the description that it has a new made elbow in aluminium. I've sent a message to the seller asking about the elbow to see if I can buy another one but so far I had no answer.

You can see it here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gramophone-phon ... 1758848225

Regards,

Pedro