The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I was attempting to play a 2 minute record on my Edison Standard phonograph. The shaft with the knurled end would not push in to engage the larger gear on the mandrel shaft. I finally took the cover off the top end gears and discovered a plastic clip around the shaft on the outside of the casting. The clip prevented the shaft from being moved into the 2 minute position. I removed the clip and it works correctly. I am wondering if this was someone's attempt to prevent the gears from being moved out of the 4 minute position or was a clip ever offered as an accessory for these combination machines?

PLASTIC ?????

Upon closer inspection the spacer appears to be made out of hard rubber. It is not magnetic. My guess is that it was made by a previous owner to keep someone from changing gears when a record was playing.

Gleemanguy wrote:Upon closer inspection the spacer appears to be made out of hard rubber. It is not magnetic. My guess is that it was made by a previous owner to keep someone from changing gears when a record was playing.

Hmm.... Childproofing? Or perhaps the PO only had 4 minute records, and wanted to prevent it from slipping out of gear?

What model is the Standard? Some of the late Edisons were intended to be four minute only and there was a mechanism for holding the gearing in the four minute position. Jerry

Jer, It is a Model D. Here is a poor photo of the spacer. Focal distance on the camera is off, but is will afford some idea

Jerry B. wrote:What model is the Standard? Some of the late Edisons were intended to be four minute only and there was a mechanism for holding the gearing in the four minute position. Jerry

Years ago I ran into that problem with a late Edison Home, before I knew they were deliberately "crippled" to play 4 minute only. The machine came with a Diamond "B" reproducer. Model "F", I believe? I could not seem to shift the mechanism from 4 minutes to 2 minutes, so I took it apart to find out why. I could see *why* it didn't work, but I thought the deficiency had been some kind of manufacturing oversight. I can't recall the exact specifics now, but using a drill press, I drilled one part and also fabricated a short pin to fit in the hole and as a result was able to shift gears. Later I discovered in Frow's book that I had altered a 4-minute-only machine. Oh well, in this case I prefer the flexibility over the originality. I installed an "O" reproducer and with a wood cygnet horn, the machine plays like a champ.