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Hi folks!

Does anyone have a source for a reproduction resonator for a Mikiphone? There was an allusion to such a creature in this thread: http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... f=2&t=1168 I only need the (often missing) back cap. Of course, I'd be happy with an original, but don't see a lot of these being parted out. Thanks!

Let me know if you find a parts machine...I have one that is missing the mainspring and drum!

--Bob

Edit: Ooops, just realized (from Jerry's response) that you have the Swiss Mikiphone...My machine is the Japanese Mikky Phone! Still need a spring/drum for it, I've even been looking at other trashed picnic phonos to see if there might be a likely transplant donor.

This may seem like a lame idea to some folks but this is what I would do. I would go to your local Home Depot and find something that is sold in a plastic container approximately the same size as the missing horn. Then I'd figure out how to make decorative holes and openings as similar to an original as possible. Then I'd make the little stem to attach the horn to the reproducer. Finally, I'd paint the completed horn. Also, you might start your search at a good craft store. When I worked for the electric utility our electrical tape came in little plastic containers slightly larger in diameter than the tape. Something made out of a soft plastic (Tupperware like) would be easier the punch your sound holes. Good luck with your project. Jerry

Jerry B. wrote:This may seem like a lame idea to some folks but this is what I would do. I would go to your local Home Depot and find something that is sold in a plastic container approximately the same size as the missing horn. Then I'd figure out how to make decorative holes and openings as similar to an original as possible. Then I'd make the little stem to attach the horn to the reproducer. Finally, I'd paint the completed horn. Also, you might start your search at a good craft store.

I already have a plastic jar lid (which the previous owner said took some hunting to find one that kinda works, although it's too thick to fit inside the case), but I'd like something a good bit closer to the original. Honestly, if no one's making repro's I'll likely just leave the back open. Googling "Mikiphone" led me to the page I mentioned, and perhaps hope.

Jerry B. wrote:When I worked for the electric utility our electrical tape came in little plastic containers slightly larger in diameter than the tape.

Scotch Super 33 and Super 88 still comes in such plastic containers.

Something made out of a soft plastic (Tupperware like) would be easier the punch your sound holes. Good luck with your project. Jerry

Thanks!

an item like the resonator might be a good candidate for having a 3D print made. One of our members had an elbow 3D printed for a machine he was restoring. I think it worked out for him.

Retrograde wrote:an item like the resonator might be a good candidate for having a 3D print made. One of our members had an elbow 3D printed for a machine he was restoring. I think it worked out for him.

I had the same thought. I was so impressed by the pictures of that elbow that I kept the link to the 3D printing company: http://www.shapeways.com/
Hope that helps
Andreas

I don't believe anyone has made a reproduction horn/resonator for the Mikiphone. The demand is so minutely small. If you really want an accurate reproduction, your best bet is to do it yourself by finding someone that has the required skills. I would expect the cost to be really high but if you had several made, you could recover your cost over the next decade or so. The cost for only one would probably be as high as a complete Mikiphone but that's just speculation. That's the reason I suggested a facsimile resonator in a previous post even though there is a huge difference in authenticity between a reproduction and a facsimile. Jerry

Bob E. wrote:Let me know if you find a parts machine...I have one that is missing the mainspring and drum!

--Bob

Edit: Ooops, just realized (from Jerry's response) that you have the Swiss Mikiphone...My machine is the Japanese Mikky Phone! Still need a spring/drum for it, I've even been looking at other trashed picnic phonos to see if there might be a likely transplant donor.

i've seen crapo mikky's and crapo nirona's and crapo cameraphones from the crap-o-phone factory in dumdum calcutta india (the place is no joke but real but the machines are!) i saw in my crap-o-phone foto archive i forgot to download the mikky foto's but they are out there and if its cheap enough you can transplant some parts
now these guys are becoming quite nifty with either oldstock or new parts
they even have a crappy decca dulcephone and crappy melba and oh! what about this crappy hmv tabletop oh i could go on with this forever but won't
greetings
tino