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I have the Studio recorder working, this is the 5th kind of diaphragm I have tried. I used liquid latex for the gasket and a green cellulose diaphragm. I will try to mix up the printers formula and see what happens, changing diaphragms and cutters is a lot easier on this recorder than a home one. One really needs to attend to the advance ball adjustment throughout the recording but filming will not permit this, however the test recordings are getting louder and clearer. I never thought I would see one of these in person, let alone own one. I had to debate wether to leave as a piece to look at, or to use, well the business I am in, I have to put it to use. I had to think If I was going to put it to use, although I plan on making a duplicate of it, so eventually I can just put this one under glass. It is kept in a very special place in a glass dome when not in use. I vow NEver to clean the outer body, nor the inside of the horn tube area. I am glad I figured out the basics of how to use it, and I still have much improvements to make to the carriage,so It may be a little easier to use. Also I need to find some Mica and glass the same size as a Model O reproducer. This head not only can be used to make 2 and 4 minute cylinder masters, but also is the same as the recording head in the Frow book mounted on the 1912 Edison Diamond Disc cutting lathe. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tipCmvpu ... re&index=2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo61GYD3 ... YWEVp--pcA

Pictures of what works. I am sharing this for historical purposes, as I risk some proprietary secrecy,but then as me posting,plagiarism will be spotted as this is my research, and this acts as kind of a proof of this work. but I am sure not many will duplicate my research into re-creating the studio sound Edison created. For only 5 diaphragm experiments, I am pretty happy with the sound, especially recording on a 100% humid day, a pretty hard thing to do.

Shawn, thank you for this! I know many of us were anxious to see and hear the studio recorder. I'd vote to use it until you can make a suitable duplicate if you think the sound is superior to your best recorder. I didn't know you did such a great Uncle Josh impersonation!

I just read (in a patent, I think - but I forget!) about burning a stick of rubber and using the resultant goo for the recorder's gasket. I imagine you've tried that already ..(?)

I actually am using raw latex,slightly burnt I think tough that eventually I am getting some sorbothane and trying it for recorder gaskets.

Fascinating to see this, and even better to see it in use.

If times get hard, you can go on the road as "Uncle Josh." Pretty good imitation.

Clay

Shawn, last Saturday when you handed that
studio recorder body to me, and I looked at
it closely, all I could think to myself
was gosh this thing is sure missing a lot
of parts! At that time, it seemed to me
little more than an old hunk of brass.

Well, so here it is still less than one week
from that time, and you have it WORKING
already!!

Nothing more needs to be said.
I have seen in person the time-line on this
and the starting point. Nice work!

Chuck

Fantastic work, Shawn! I'm avid to see more of your experiments with this recorder.

Regards,
Martin

Great work, Shawn, and indeed a superb impersonation of UJ! I still have to get mine working but first I want to attach a more powerful, electric motor to sustain a proper and more steady speed.

The one on the bottom is certainly a brother of yours, made from quite heavy brass. I fortunately found these three once at the Wayne show, the most important one for me. Luckily all of them still have their advance ball, but you got yours pretty well restored!

The upper two recorders are made from cast aluminum, with the one at the right apparently never used. The other one on the left is quite different with its top shaft. This one has still the recording stylus, which looks intact, mounted at the end of a long rod, with a spring-loaded hinge. It is clearly not 2-minute, rather 4-minute or diamond disc, something I still have to find out.

The brass recorder has this thick rim of bees wax, with some remains of the original glass diaphragm in it. This looks almost similar to the diaphragms I have been offering for a couple of years now, so that's what I may try one day. On the other hand I am somewhat concerned to destroy these old remains as they are part of the whole story...

Very Nice and very clear! Sounds just like Uncle Josh.
I bet you could make some nice recordings and have them cast in resin or wax.