Wax Shavings

[jsonova99]

So I'm new to cylinder records, I just got my first cylinder phonograph, an Edison Standard Model B with a Model C reproducer. My question is that I've played two cylinders so far, one played fine (Lakeside by Montgomery Ward), the second played decently but left a lot of wax shavings (I think it was a Columbia) whereas the Lakeside had no shavings. My question is whether this is normal. The cylinders are 2 minute cylinders. Thanks for helping a cylinder novice.

[Lucius1958]

Was the Lakeside wax or celluloid? If you're getting a lot of debris from wax cylinders, you had better check the stylus for wear.

Also, Columbia black wax cylinders tend to be softer than Edisons; it would be better to play them with a Model B reproducer, or on a Columbia machine with a floating reproducer.

Bill

[FellowCollector]

the second played decently but left a lot of wax shavings

Definitely not normal. As Lucius1958 mentioned above, it sounds like your stylus may be bad. Lakeside cylinders have celluloid surfaces like the US Everlastings. Therefore, shavings would be difficult to see but it's likely you may have damaged that cylinder as well by playing it - assuming the stylus is bad (or it may be missing entirely). Remove the reproducer and look (under magnification if possible) at the stylus. You should see a tiny doorknob shaped stylus at the end of the stylus bar. If it's present then run the tip of your index finger across it. It should not feel sharp in any way. If it's missing or cleaved then you will feel a rather sharp edge on your finger tip which means you are cutting your cylinders. I wouldn't play any more cylinders until you confirm that the stylus is replaced and it is riding correctly on the cylinder surface. - Doug

[FellowCollector]

As an update to my previous post, regarding post-play of the Columbia cylinder, you may be simply seeing dust and accumulated sediment after play. If a black wax cylinder has not been played in many years it will acquire a haze on the surface. When you play it the stylus will actually be cleaning the haze off the cylinder and this may be what you are seeing and describing. If you are seeing a very light dusty sediment on the surface of the cylinder after play it may be just that which is harmless and is not wax. In this case your stylus may be just fine. A bad stylus will produce little or no sound at all during play. - Doug

[Chuck]

Have a close look at your model C reproducer's
stylus using bright light, and as high of
a magnification as possible.

You can buy a little white-LED illuminated
50-power pocket microscope now for $5 to $10.

One of those lets you see the "doorknob" stylus tip quite well.

Most C reproducers that are in original shape
will have some sort of a small flat worn
on that curved surface. If you do see any
kind of a flat worn there, then it's definitely time to turn the stylus to expose
a fresh curved surface.

Back in 1967 when I first started using my
grandfather's old Edison Standard model D
machine, you should have seen all the gunk
and dirt that came off of those black 2-minute
Gold Moulded records!

They are mostly seriously worn records but
not any mold. Lots and lots of dirt shavings
came off! Later on (several years later)
I found that the stylus had a flat on it, so
I sent that Model C out to John Nagy in
Wolcott, Iowa to be rebuilt. He did a very
nice job!!

Those old worn records, by the way, still
to this day all play quite well. They are
worn, having been played hundreds of times
but there is still sound on them to be heard.

Gold Moulded "Fawn Eyes"..."Played by the
Edison Symphony Orchestra", and then
another seriously worn one titled
"Love's Confession".

All played until seriously worn out, but still
quite fun to listen to. But you should have seen all the gunk that came off of them
after having been stored in a hot/cold
attic from 1935, until 1967!!

They can take some serious abuse.

Chuck