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I am looking at a Brunswick phonograph with the turning reproducer on craigslist, and I was just wondering if they could play Edison Diamond Discs? The grill seems to be damaged, are they hard to find? Also, is their anything else I need to worry about with these machines?

The Brunswicks equipped with the Ultona reproducers (not all Brunswick models had the Ultona reproducer) can play Diamond Discs and Pathés and regular 78's. This was one of their selling points. However, the Edison DD machines have a feed screw? type feed that guides the reproducer across the record while the Brunswick just uses the record groove to carry the reproducer across the record. I have played a few DD's on my Brunswick but my personal opinion is that Diamond Discs play better on a DD machine. As to how hard it is to find a grill, it all depends on what model Brunswick it is. If it is a common model, it probably wouldn't be too difficult. Just my two cents worth. Jan.

Here is the picture that is posted online. I am waiting to hear back from the person.

I pretty much agree. The brunswick is usually my first choice for Victor or Standard type records. It also to me does a better job on Pathé than most of their machines did, at least the more common american versions. And while it will play Edison records and sound pretty good, if you have become used to the fuller sounds of the Edison larger machines then the Brunswick leaves a bit to be desired. Its not bad and if you had no Edison machines to play the record on it is a pretty fair way to at least hear them. I never noticed any issues with the fact that they don't have the drive screw, as long as the tone arm extension still works and you set the balance weight well then I think its will do a pretty acceptable job. But one other caution, many of the Brunswick arms are pot metal and when they expand you can not get the arm to extend to the correct position to play the Edisons.. My own reasonably large Brunswick has that problem. I am unable to move that arm forward. Its something you need to know before you buy it or your stuck looking for another arm which seem not to sell cheaply.

Larry

You posted the photo as I was typing the response.. the machine your showing does not play Edison records as it has the head that is only one sided. It will play Pathé.

Larry

The above post by Larry has good advice. The Brunswick phonograph is a good machine that plays well when the tone arm issues and reproducer are working as they should. I have a Brunswick phonograph and enjoy it. It has the Ultona, but the photo shows, as indicated, the two way reproducer that will play the regular Brunswick records along with the Pathé discs. Check to see if there is a Pathé stylus there. That may been a point to consider.

You posted the photo as I was typing the response.. the machine your showing does not play Edison records as it has the head that is only one sided. It will play Pathé.

I may be wrong, but I thought I heard somewhere that the 2 way head was the later incarnation of the Ultona where one simply replaced the sapphire on a shank (for Pathé) with a diamond on a shank (for DDs). That said, for playing DDs; a C250 or a C19 would be a better investment for not all that much money.

- Martin

I have the model Brunswick Model 105. This is a Gem of a machine I personally think it is the best of the best. My little babe has the 3 way Ultonsa Soundbox and will play edison DD also Pathé' and 78's. This machine I would never part with because there very hard to come by.


The Brunswick Model 105



The Brunswick Model 105
Opened


The sound box

larryh wrote:You posted the photo as I was typing the response.. the machine your showing does not play Edison records as it has the head that is only one sided. It will play Pathé.

Larry

Larry I have shown my Brunswick with the proper sound box I think you will agree.
from william

larryh wrote:You posted the photo as I was typing the response.. the machine your showing does not play Edison records as it has the head that is only one sided. It will play Pathé.

Larry

Larry I have shown my Brunswick with the proper sound box I think you will agree.
from william