speaking tube recording edison i.c.s. phonograph

[THEVICTROLAGUY]

i recently picked up an Edison standard c i.c.s. machine with a frozen mandrel bearing. i replaced the bearing with a modern olite bronze bearing from apsco, the machine is up and running. a test recording on a black wax blank using one of our new 20" speaking tubes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... BSgNIDX1Ow

[Phonofreak]

I never heard of a black wax blank. I've only heard of a brown wax blanks. Because the black wax blank is a harder material, will it be difficult to record on it? The recording in the video sounded good.
Harvey Kravitz

[flashpanblue]

Harvey,
Benjamin ( The Victrola Guy) records on shaved black wax Dictaphone blanks which are much softer than Gold Moulded cylinders. He does a great job and the recordings sound very good.
Pete

[FloridaClay]

i.c.s. stands for??

Clay

[gramophone78]

i.c.s. stands for??

Clay

"International Correspondence School"

[FloridaClay]

Ah, thanks. I had a vague memory from past reading that it might have something to do with education but just couldn't recall. Were their differences in machines made for them other than the nice speed control pointed out in the video?

Clay

[Phonofreak]

Hi Pete,
Thanks for letting me know the difference. I was always wondering about that.
Harvey Kravitz

Harvey,
Benjamin ( The Victrola Guy) records on shaved black wax Dictaphone blanks which are much softer than Gold Moulded cylinders. He does a great job and the recordings sound very good.
Pete

[THEVICTROLAGUY]

the Edison i.c.s. machine is a true hybrid, the bed plate is that of the standard d but without the 2/4 gearing, it is equipped with the motor of the Edison a which allows for the external speed control, it is also equipped with the push button repeater for quick repetition of a word or phrase on the language cylinders. the language cylinders are recorded at 90 rpm and are gold moulded cylinders.

[mf77]

I never heard of a black wax blank. I've only heard of a brown wax blanks. Because the black wax blank is a harder material, will it be difficult to record on it? The recording in the video sounded good.
Harvey Kravitz

Edison's original 4 minute wax blanks were also black wax, and appear to be just as hard as (or very close to) the wax formula used for 2 min gold moulded records.