The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I am looking for a new belt for my Edison Home.

The replacement belt that I bought on the internet is too wide and too thick. It rides partially on either rim of the drive pulley depending on how the pulleys are adjusted, but it doesn't stay centered.

Who knows somebody who can offer the best belting material for this machine?

Thanks!
Helmut

Call Ron Sitko @ 518-371-8549. He offers leather belt material by the foot so you can make your own belts.

Jim

I bought belts from Ron Sitko. His belts are the right width and very supple. They are great for any cylinder machine.
Harvey Kravitz

I always make my own belts. Does anyone on the Forum buy the ready made belts? Any problems with them? Jerry

I've found that the best belts are the ones I make myself; the commercial ones always seem too stiff.

Bill

I've always wanted to know how good the rubber ones are. I would think that the elasticity of ruber would function as a flutter filter and that they would grip the pullys better than leather. Any thoughts?

ImperialGuardsman wrote:I've always wanted to know how good the rubber ones are. I would think that the elasticity of ruber would function as a flutter filter and that they would grip the pullys better than leather. Any thoughts?

While not having used one myself, I've heard the opposite from people who have.

HisMastersVoice wrote:

ImperialGuardsman wrote:I've always wanted to know how good the rubber ones are. I would think that the elasticity of ruber would function as a flutter filter and that they would grip the pullys better than leather. Any thoughts?

While not having used one myself, I've heard the opposite from people who have.

I thought of the "flutter filter" theory too and bought a couple for use on a Triumph. They don't work at all, at least the ones I bought on eBAY. Leather is way better. I had some issues with the leather ones being too wide and running off the pully too. I trimmed the overly wide places with a razor and it now works perfectly.

I buy mine from Sitko too. Buy a couple of yards and you will never need a belt again. The trick is knowing the correct way to cut the 2 ends were you glue them together. Also, make the length right. I wrap mine around all the pulleys and mark it with a pencil. Mark it about a ¼ inch overlapping. Lay it on my wooden work bench, and cut the ends at an angel so its still flat when you glue it together. If you don't cut the angle, it will bump as it goes around. If you cut it too tight, just stretch it by pulling on it. Very easy, just don't forget the tension pulley when you fit it around the pulleys.

As I occasionally restore player pianos I always have some scraps of pneumatic cloth laying around. I find that medium-weight pneumatic cloth ( the stuff used to cover action pneumatics) makes a fine, attractive belt. It is strong, doesn't strech, and has a fair amount of "grab". I cut (or rather tear) a strip of appropriate width and install it with the maroon fabric side facing down, and the black rubber coated face up. This material is very strong, stronger than leather, and yet it is so very thin that the loins may be made by simply lapping the material, with no bevel necessary. A half-inch lap glued with rubber or contact cement is sufficient. This sort of belt will eliminate slipping belt troubles in almost every case, and may be made quite wide enough even for the largest of the Columbia machines. A belt made up in this fashion will greatly improve the reproduction of amplifying machine such as the Columbia BC.