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I put my Edison "Home" D on the treadmill today, so to speak, after oiling and doing a little tweaking, as well as setting the speed ( used timing marks on back-rod and watch with sweep second-hand, first on 2-mintue records, than 4-minute for fine tuning.)

Then, I wound it up and proceeded to see "How many cylinders will it play on one winding? "

Machine is using C and H reproducers, and "pulling" a 30" l x 17" bell H&S Silk-jacket horn, on a front-mount crane.


For the 2-minute test, I was able to play four full cylinders, plus ½ of a fifth before the machine began to slow.

On the 4-minute test, it pulled strong through two Blue Amberols ( full, nearly 4-minute recordings ), and about ¾ of the third cylinder before them machine slowed.


How does this compare with "ideal" performance from a Home D ?

I'd be pleased with those results. Jerry Blais

Sounds good to me. I have a Home B 2 & 4 minute which is a workhorse. It needed a new spring when I bought it so along with replacing the spring I did a complete teardown, clean and lube of the motor and upper works. I don't know how many records it will play on a wind but the number seems sufficient to me. I like it because it has not been at all temperamental and is ready to go whenever I want to use it. Currently it is equipped with a model S reproducer, Home horn and Ron Sitko Crane. I do have a horizontal carriage also and it works very well with a diamond B.
BTW: I use a digital tach for setting speed and I find that the Home holds speed very well.

Jim

RE: setting speeds

I'm going to have to get one of those strobe discs for the end of the mandrel...

Playing around with the watch and the timing marks takes too long !


(Next time, I use my 1880's key-wind Elgin Pocket-Watch for the time-keeper )

Sounds good indeed. The 1907 catalogue suggested that the Home would play six two minute cylinders with one winding which probably really meant five.

Jim

Getting 8+ minutes run time on a Home is very good indeed. However, I typically don't wind up a spring each time completely, unless the spring starts thumping - then I will wind up completely and let it play down completely to redistribute the grease inside the barrel.

That's about what I can get with mine when I tested it some time back. It's a B model retrofitted with large carriage for O & Diamond B reproducers and 10 panel cygnet. It does a little better with the O than with the diamond B.

Check out Ebay# 330964244645 (not affiliated) It's a digital handheld laser tachometer. I've been using one for the past few years. I have found it to be quite accurate--- You place a small piece of reflective sticker (plenty is included in the kit) onto the edge of the turntable or end of the mandrel and aim the laser light at that spot as the machine turns.. It's very simple to use. I lay mine onto the bedplate to help hold it steady-- They make these things running up into the hundreds of dollars, but these cheap ones from China seem to work well.

Brad Abell

You can print one of the discs shown here: http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... ?f=7&t=637

Thanks for the replies, all.

I'm thinking of giving this machine to a friend, as his first cylinder player.


I think it plays / performs pretty good... just wanted to double-check

I have printed-out a couple of strobe sheets... will be putting those to good use as well.