The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hey--a quick question
Can I play non-Edison vertical cut records on my Edison diamond disc phonograph using the Edison diamond disc reproducer? (And, of course, adjusting the speed from 80 to 78 rpm if necessary)

You can with the correct adaptor, but not with a DD reproducer, it will tear them to shreds.

Sean

NO!

Shellac records won't stand up to the weight of the Edison reproducer, and the groove pitch is different so the feed screw would cause skipping. Not knowing this I ruined a Pathé disc, so don't make the same mistake.

One maker did produce vertical cut discs with a fine groove which they claimed could be played on the Edison, but they didn't stand up to wear. I think it may have been Operaphone.

If you have a quantity of vertical cut discs you'll need a machine with a combination arm (easy to find) and the proper sapphire stylus (slightly harder to find but obtainable)

estott wrote:
If you have a quantity of vertical cut discs you'll need a machine with a combination arm (easy to find) and the proper sapphire stylus (slightly harder to find but obtainable)

You need a sapphire ball stylus for early Pathé records (the ones that don't say "needle cut"), but most of the other shellac verticals (Operaphone, early Okeh, etc.) are played with regular steel needles.

How about REX records. I have quite a stash of these and would like to play them on my Sonora with adjustable sound box to play verticals. They note on the label to use sapphire needles, so I presume this is what I do. Since my last post with photos of some supposed sapphire needles (but they were not), I did obtain three of the real sapphires on ebay and await their delivery.
Thanks much for your help.
John

REX records are sapphire ball.