The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have an excellent Edison Home (not sure on the model) 2/4 gearing that seems to run just fine, but produces a warbly or wavy sound from any cylinder that I play. The cylinders sound GREAT on my Amberola 50, but this machine doesn't produce as nice of a sound.

Any ideas what the problem could be?

I have searched the forum already, but thought I would just start a new thread to get some fresh input.

Thanks!

Warble is usually governor issue. A bad reproducer stylus or inadequate lateral movement of the reproducer weight can cause an echo sound. Do you have the luxury of trying a different reproducer? Jerry Blais

The Model H reproducer is supposed to have a fairly new stylus. I have a Model C that produces about the same amount of warble.

You might also want to check the mandrel bearing, if appropriate. If your Home is a D or later, with native 2/4 minute gearing and not conversion gearing, it has/had a single pot metal mandrel bearing. Over time, this bearing can swell and/or become disfigured, increasing the drag on the mandrel shaft and creating the warble you describe.

Is the belt in good condition , with no lumps , a tight belt with lumps where joined will cause this as the lump moves over the belt tensioner pully

If the belt is OK it must be the Governor are the weights and springs identical ?

1. The leather belt slipping is a common problem that can cause a warble. Make sure the belt tension wheel that rides on top the belt turns freely. Make sure the belt tension spring is hooked correctly to exert sufficient torque. The belt should not be too tight or too loose. Some new replica belts are too stiff or slick on the bottom side to grab the pulleys.

2. Governor issues are another common problem. Assuming the weight springs are screwed on tight and that none of them are bent in the slightest, I would use powerful solvents to degrease the brass governor disk and the felt pad that regulates it, then re-oil. Old oil can built up uneven waxy deposits, and the varying friction can cause flutter. In extreme cases I have had to spin-polish the governor disk with 0000 steel wool to remove oxidation, corrosion or even slight pitting.

Check that the belt drive pulley(lower pulley) isn't rubbing against anything.
Mine was wobbly to the point that it was rubbing on the governor bearing. I had a bent shaft, when I straightened it, the machines performance improved quite a bit.

The governor seems to have all the same weights and springs.

The belt tensioner does move up and down slightly as the belt goes around. Is it supposed to do that? The bottom pulley does seem to move slight from side to side but doesn't rub on anything.

Also, the reproducer doesn't have a serial number on it by the neck. Does this mean it is a reproduction? It has good sound other than warbling.

Thank you for your help thus far!

sq4wonder wrote:The governor seems to have all the same weights and springs.

The belt tensioner does move up and down slightly as the belt goes around. Is it supposed to do that? The bottom pulley does seem to move slight from side to side but doesn't rub on anything.

Also, the reproducer doesn't have a serial number on it by the neck. Does this mean it is a reproduction? It has good sound other than warbling.

Thank you for your help thus far!

Pictures really help when problem solving.... .

sq4wonder wrote: The belt tensioner does move up and down slightly as the belt goes around. Is it supposed to do that? The bottom pulley does seem to move slight from side to side but doesn't rub on anything.

Nothing too unusual about those observations.

A few questions: Does the warble seem to correspond to the rpm of the governor? Or does it correspond to the rotation of the record? Or none of those? If you suddenly grab the mandrel while it is turning at full speed, does the leather belt slip so that the motor keeps running a while?