Reproduction Automatic reproducers on eBAY

[fran604g]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/High-Quality-Re ... 4ad4881a65

Thoughts?

Fran

[flashpanblue]

Hello,
I think it looks like it is very well made with good attention to details. Certainly much cheaper that an original.
Pete

[fran604g]

Hello,
I think it looks like it is very well made with good attention to details. Certainly much cheaper that an original.
Pete

I agree. I was thinking I could buy 2 for the price of a nice original. I have 2 machines (Standard A and Home A) that will benefit from this reproduction. I'd still love originals and maybe someday I will be able see that happen for both machines. I like the fact that he's using one serial number and retaining the original, I think it's a great way to keep the replicas segregated in the collecting/historical community.

Fran

[Phonofreak]

I just saw these on Justin's website. These are fantastic. Except for the S/N, these are dead-on accurate.
Harvey Kravitz

[OrthoSean]

Somebody correct me if I'm worng, but these should have a somewhat different stylus than the "C" for playing brown wax cylinders, no? There's no mention of such in the listing, but I was wondering...

Sean

[rgordon939]

The stylus is the correct type found on the Automatics and Model B's, that is the ball type stylus.

Rich Gordon

[OrthoSean]

Thanks, Rich for making that clear. Elsewhere, somebody was saying that these will wear brown wax "just as much" as a C would, I find this hard to believe. Does anyone own one of these new ones that can offer a review? I'd consider getting one if I knew these were gentle on brown wax! Right now, I use one of two Columbia Eagles with floating reproducers for brown wax or electrical playback with the ACT reproducer and correct stylus.

Thanks!
Sean

[phonojim]

This presents somewhat of a dilemma to me. For those seeking an Automatic, it makes life easier, but for those who already possess them or for dealers who have bought them expecting to make a certain level of profit, it becomes a disadvantage. As far as the serial number, I would rather he had created a unique serial number, similar to the way Paul Baker did, which could not be mistaken for an original piece. The problem is that years down the road, this serial number information may become lost and the original will have been sold, leaving collectors of that day with unanswered questions.
One question: does anyone know what diaphragm material he is using for these? Glass, mica or ??

Jim

[phonogfp]

Elsewhere, somebody was saying that these will wear brown wax "just as much" as a C would, I find this hard to believe. Does anyone own one of these new ones that can offer a review?

You're right, Sean. An Automatic in good condition will be gentler on brown wax than a Model C in good condition.

The Model C has a heavier weight and a smaller stylus surface in contact with the record. The simple physics of more weight + less area to support it means more wear. The moulded cylinders were designed to handle that increased pressure, but the brown wax was not.

I think having reproductions of the Automatic available at that price is wonderful. I truly wish I needed one... Maybe I'll get one just to squirrel it away. Too often, excellent reproductions of desirable parts are available for only a short time, and after a few years they're worth nearly as much as the originals! I hope this will not be the case with these Automatics.

Justin has done a good thing for the hobby.

George P.

[phonogfp]

One question: does anyone know what diaphragm material he is using for these? Glass, mica or ??

Jim

The eBay writeup specifies glass diaphragms.

George P.