The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have a Edison GEM Model? Is the knob on the right side just On/Off or is it also the speed control.
Howard

Howard,
There are various Gem models. Do you know which yours is.
Regards,
Alistair.

I'm going to assume its the B model, 2 minute only.

If your knob is on the right, it is the on/off switch as well as the speed control which you have to set by turning the knob on the threaded shaft for the speed.

BillF

The model B and up has a turn button on the right hand side which should be turned fully clockwise to start..
To slow the machine down, you CAN turn it slightly back, but it should be set correctly (At 160rpm) for Gold Moulded and later cylinders (With a few exceptions ie Lamberts) by slackening the small grub screw on the knob and releasing the rod to slow it, or pushing the knob further onto the rod to speed it up then re-tighten the screw.
Sometimes the rod sticks proud of the knob which makes it easy to hold it carefully with pliers.
Regards,
Alistair

Often times there will be a S shaped wire that will go through the end of the shaft that you may have to remove to adjust the speed. This was added to secure the factory adjusted speed.
BillF