Black-wax Amberols: which reproducer ?

[De Soto Frank]

I just received my first black-wax 4-minute Amberols.

I am already aware of their fragile and unpredictable nature.

I have a couple of combination "Home" machines; is the 4-minute "H" reproducer safe for playing the black Amberol ?


I am strongly considering buying a transcription mic so that I can dub these to another format on the first playing, just in case...


Would appreciate any recommendations / cautions.


Thanks !

De Soto Frank

[OrthoSean]

Yes, a model H will be fine for these...

Dubbing to another format is a smart move! I had a nice Sousa title self destruct on me the other night.

Sean

[VintageTechnologies]

Personally, the only reproducers that I use on 4M wax are the H and K models. Other models with larger weights will of course wear the delicate grooves quicker. It would be a good idea to examine the sapphire stylus under a microscope to assure that it has not been worn flat by playing the harder Blue Amberols in later years.

It is a good idea to record any 4M wax cylinders for posterity, particularly if they are clean and can't be heard anywhere online. I often find that my records are in better condition than those published online.

I bought an iRig condenser mike for my Apple iPhone for 60 bucks. It records great and is real convenient. The included software allows basic editing on the phone itself. I also use free Audacity software for more advanced editing on the computer; versions are available for Windows, Mac and Linux.

[edisonphonoworks]

H is a good reproducer to play them back with, a good rebuilt original, with good stylus. Use a large horn, morning glory, or better a long concert horn, I used a 5' brass concert horn for this purpose, and I use an M audio usb studio condenser microphone,placed about 3' away from the horn opening. With acoustical machines, you have to do some microphone placement experiments (I would suggest doing the experiments with something other than the wax amberols) to set up, and then change over to the 4m gearing and H reproducer. I have included a video of recording and acoustical phonograph with the M audio microphone. http://youtu.be/uPUsxSY_AbY sometimes around where you are transcribing it is best to place some blankets like a box around where you are miking the horn, to reduce room resonance. The package can be had for the same price as the I rig, and much better specs, I have two and I love them.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/M-Audio-Vocal-R ... 3f32ce855f

[RefSeries]

I would check the Model H stylus with an eyeglass first. If it looks damaged, replace the stylus before playing wax Amberols. Expert Stylus will do that for you if you send them the bar. Incidentally you can also use a Model Q reproducer, which has the smaller 'trimmed' weight and a bigger diaphragm, but I haven't checked the tracking weights of both so can't advise which is the kinder to the record.

I have found that wax Amberols if in good condition have a magnificent tone, tend not to warp, do not really suffer from mould and can sound quite magnificent. They were a staggering piece of engineering, with a groove less than three thousandths of an inch wide (smaller than a human hair) set in the brittles wax imaginable. Amazing for over a century ago.

Record them for posterity first!

Keith

[phonojim]

You can also use an R or S which give you the "big sound" of the large diaphragm but with the lower weight of the H. I believe the "trowel-weighted" O was designed to give a stylus pressure equal to an H.
Keith commented on the intricate technology Edison developed over a century ago and I, too have long been impressed by how much was accomplished with the methods and materials then available and how durable it has proven to be.

Jim

[Valecnik]

This can give you some idea of the potential in those four minute wax records with the trowel weighted Model O reproducer.

[youtubehd]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dByv37jI4A8[/youtubehd][/quote]

[edisonplayer]

I've put many of my wax Amberols on cassette tape as I'm somewhat hesitant to play the actual records.I used my Triumph E with Model O reproducer to tape mine.I'm no techie,but I preserved them just the same.edisonplayer

[edisonplayer]

By.the way,the O that I have on my Triumph E also has the trowel weight and is made of pot metal.I think it was one of the later ones.edisonplayer

[Valecnik]

I'm hesitant to play them too, especially the rarer ones. The one you see in the recording has only been played twice, when I made the youTube recording. If I want to hear it now I can listen there.