The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello everyone,

It has been brought up before, usually in bits and pieces, but I wanted to know what y'all thought about the amount of wear 78 adapters cause. Particularly Kent adapters or any that actually have some length to them. I imagine that the short, stubby ones mis-track a whole lot.

I have a kent adapter that I use on my C-250 with an HMV no.4 reproducer. I think it sounds much better and less "boxy" (and louder by a bit) than when I use the same reproducer on my VV-240. However, I don;t want to ruin my records.

Thanks,
Nicholas

That's a good question that I've never heard addressed except by the Edison Co. They said don't use any adapters on their machines, but I always assumed that was because they preferred to sell Edison DDs. I like how my Caruso and Galli-Curci records sound on my Edisonic Schubert using a Fletcher-Wickes Co. reproducer manufactured in Chicago with a patent date of May 15, 1917. Maybe someone knows the answer.

marcapra wrote:That's a good question that I've never heard addressed except by the Edison Co. They said don't use any adapters on their machines, but I always assumed that was because they preferred to sell Edison DDs. I like how my Caruso and Galli-Curci records sound on my Edisonic Schubert using a Fletcher-Wickes Co. reproducer manufactured in Chicago with a patent date of May 15, 1917. Maybe someone knows the answer.

I would love to have an Edisonic machine one day. You are quite lucky (in my book anyway). Yes, I hear a distinct difference with Carusoe as he sounds more life like. I imagine that the Edisonic Horn must do wonders.

I do hope someone has really looked into this.

marcapra wrote:That's a good question that I've never heard addressed except by the Edison Co. They said don't use any adapters on their machines, but I always assumed that was because they preferred to sell Edison DDs.

Well, Edison did briefly offer a lateral adapter of their own in 1914. However, it was soon withdrawn, for fear of cutting into record sales. They didn't offer another adapter until 1928.

Bill

Lucius1958 wrote:

marcapra wrote:That's a good question that I've never heard addressed except by the Edison Co. They said don't use any adapters on their machines, but I always assumed that was because they preferred to sell Edison DDs.

Well, Edison did briefly offer a lateral adapter of their own in 1914. However, it was soon withdrawn, for fear of cutting into record sales. They didn't offer another adapter until 1928.

Bill

Interesting. If I would have been Edison, I would have touted the merits of the Diamond Disc but also would have worked to create an excellent lateral adaptor and claim that the Edison phonograph can play victors better than a victor (while also reiterating that the Diamond Disc is still better in every way).
Anyhoo, have you noticed additional record wear?

I think I read some years ago in the MAPS newsletter that pre-Orthophonic Victrolas and Victors don't track right and that they cause excessive record wear on the last half of the record. AS I understood it, the needle needs to align with the spindle when you move the tone arm all the way over. So I guess you can move the reproducer over to the spindle to see if it bisects the center of the spindle to see if it is aligned. On my Fletcher adapter, I see that the needle is one inch off from intersecting the spindle, but since the reproducer can pivot that may not be a big factor. I don't know enough about turntable geometry.

marcapra wrote:I think I read some years ago in the MAPS newsletter that pre-Orthophonic Victrolas and Victors don't track right and that they cause excessive record wear on the last half of the record. AS I understood it, the needle needs to align with the spindle when you move the tone arm all the way over. So I guess you can move the reproducer over to the spindle to see if it bisects the center of the spindle to see if it is aligned. On my Fletcher adapter, I see that the needle is one inch off from intersecting the spindle, but since the reproducer can pivot that may not be a big factor. I don't know enough about turntable geometry.

Interesting. I think the "thin Arm" Victors would have more of a problem than the "Fat arm" ones as the goose neck on the fat ones is turned a bit, likely an attempt to reduce the amount of mistracking. The overal statement is probably true none the less. I just wanted to know if anyone has noticed more wear than regular.