Bettini Attachments

[cleveland1996]

Hi Everyone......could someone give me a primer course on Bettini attachments? These are currently on ebay

item # 400377757813

Isn't it missing the attachment to the carriage rod or did I overlook it? There are 2 reproducers..Is one a recorder??

If it is missing parts, are you out of luck or could someone make them??


Thanks for the info..

Joe

[Dave D]

Hello,
You are right. There is no carriage with these. I was looking at mine last night and it looks very similar. There have been repros made of these over the years, the last ones by Lee Kirk. He made me a spider for mine and borrowed a few parts to copy, but he passed away. I am really surprised to see how high those are up to on Ebay.
Dave D

[Larry Hawes]

There are five major parts to this type of Bettini assembly. The major housing and the attachment which slides on to raise and lower the spyder (needle) assembly. Then there is the brass nickel plated block that the rear portion of the playing or recording assemble slides into which is the part extending at the rear with the flat portion of the rod carved a bit to allow the set screw from the assembly to slide onto the reproducer/recorder. Then that nickel plated brass block had a cut out at the bottom allowing for the round hollow also brass with nickel wash to slide into the "block". This hollow assembly then slides onto the main bar between the sides of the top plate the to which the underside had the motor attached. The 5th part was the spring steel with half nut attached that ran from the hollow rod out to rest on the driving screw which is part of the cylinder mandral. So in effect you by purchasing this offering have two of the three needed parts for the final assembly and playing of the attachments. The parts offered generally (with the additional parts) would make a 15 minute conversion from "stock" Edison Spring Motor, Triumph, Concert (after conversion to small cylinders) and others (mind blank but perhaps Home need to go and look but Green Bay is calling now!.)

Anyway Lee made some very nice things. His spyders are first class, diaphragms and other small parts but as far as main Bettini stuff I can say that we (we partnered many years in many Bettini investments) were successful in the hard rubber speaker attachments, screws with required thread and head so hard to find, cups that floated between horn and top of reproducer/recorder, spyders in varying sizes and shapes, tension rings, gasgets of many compositions etc. We had just completed a major Bettini project at the time of his death. He never got to the main assembly or the raise/lower assembly but we did complete most all other parts and pieces.

If you are in need of parts Bettini wise let me know. As for the current offering I have never seen anything quite like it. The printing on the housing does not match any that I have or any in photos in other collections. If it is a reproduction it is very very well made but I can guarantee not by Lee Kirk.

Hope some of this long mail was worth the read otherwise find your nearest round file and deposit it.
Wishing you all a good 201.

Larry Hawes

[JohnM]

What are they up to? The link above is broken.

[kirtley2012]

What are they up to? The link above is broken.

$7,433

[rodpickett]

Larry - your description was very well worth reading. Thanks for taking the time to document the Bettini attachments. Are you aware of any other existing documentation e.g. In The Groove or Antique Phonograph? This could be a future interest article or perhaps I've overlooked previous discussions.

[Dave D]

Hi Larry,
Can you tell me what that red glue was Lee used to attach the spiders to the mica? Mine fell off twice. I was going to try Stratena next. I have had this machine for several years and never heard it play because of the spider issue.
Dave D

[FloridaClay]

Here is a link, and a picture from it.

Clay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/400377757813;js ... 26_rdc%3D1

[fmblizz]

Sold for $15,656.00


Bet that made his day... Probably didn't have a clue.

Blizz

[Skihawx]

That was found about an hour and a half from me. I guess there is stuff up here
in New Hampshire! I just haven't found any yet.