The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have a copy of Uncle Tom's Cabin a Dream Picture and when I got it discovered that it has a distinct and distracting click/thunk while playing. Sometimes it goes away part way through the cylinder, but it is very bad at the beginning.

Has anyone else ever had this problem?

I really enjoy the cylinder, but it definitely is a shame that it has this problem.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Presumably you are referring to a Blue Amberol cylinder (#3458). I will assume that you have checked it carefully for an audible surface scratch, split or crack and found there was none. The next thing to check is that you have the cylinder completely and correctly mounted on the mandrel. Occasionally, a cylinder will click as it revolves if it is not mounted correctly (ex: pushed on tightly enough) on the mandrel. Also confirm that the sound is actually coming from the cylinder and not somewhere else nearby in the top works drive train. Good luck. Doug

Yes, there is no split or scratch. I tried pushing it slightly tighter on the mandrel and that solved the problem. With all the other cylinders I have played I have never had to push that tightly, but that solved the issue! Thanks!

Be Careful! You may split the cylinder. Blue amberol cylinders tend to be "out of round", and there is a reamer device to make them round inside.