The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

This video shows you how to record 78s with a normal acoustic mechanical phonograph, like a Victrola! These machines were not designed for recording, but the technology is simple enough to allow the process to go in reverse (making records rather than playing them).

-To skip to the recording go to 2:53
-To skip to the playback go to 3:29

[youtubehd]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13aToZgIugw[/youtubehd]

Here are some close up pictures:

the playback was quite decent!

Very cool Michael!

I see a spy novel forming in my head using this as a key plot point!

That was a fun experiment.
(Better that listening to tree rings. Though, that an interesting too.)

James.

It was certainly an interesting parlor trick, and with some sort of feed mechanism, might be able to record a bit longer...

But I doubt it would play back acoustically very well.

Bill

A fascinating little experiment. Thanks.

Clay

I could try it myself using my Standard model X talking machine.It's a front mount machine. edisonplayer

anyone who has a edison disc machine with a reproducer adaptor for normal 78s go try this!!
fix the adaptor with a bit of duct tape so to restrict side to side movement take your cd lay it on the platter put in a worn needle turn on and place reproducer on the cd and shout into the horn and hey presto instant recording lathe!!

it works pretty nice

tino

ps it works well with aluminium and thin plastic throw away dinner plates aswell atleast those come in the sizes of 10 and 12 inch rather than the just 5 inch cd's
and recording with the edison diamond disc machine's tracking system will give you very fine groove spacing for a long recording up to 4 and a half to 5 min

tinovanderzwan wrote:anyone who has a edison disc machine with a reproducer adaptor for normal 78s go try this!!
fix the adaptor with a bit of duct tape so to restrict side to side movement take your cd lay it on the platter put in a worn needle turn on and place reproducer on the cd and shout into the horn and hey presto instant recording lathe!!

it works pretty nice

tino

ps it works well with aluminium and thin plastic throw away dinner plates aswell atleast those come in the sizes of 10 and 12 inch rather than the just 5 inch cd's
and recording with the edison diamond disc machine's tracking system will give you very fine groove spacing for a long recording up to 4 and a half to 5 min

Great idea! I've actually done something similar to what you said but I made a little recording head and the recordings where absolutely fantastic. I might post something about it if anybody wants to see.
-Nick