The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Is there an adapter which would allow me to play Edison Diamond Discs on my Victrola VV-IV? If so how rare are they and how much would one cost. If they do not exist, is there any way I could make one?

Third party adapters ( Diamond-Disc > Victrola ) did exist, but I don't think anyone here would advise using one on a regular basis - it's not kind to the Diamond Disc.


Most folks here even poo-poo using a Brunswick Ultona to play Diamond Discs, and those were "built to play them", so to speak.


As for building one, if you're a talented machinist and want to try it as a personal challenge, why not... ?


I think there's a patent illustration of a vertical-cut Victrola adapter in the back of "Look for the Dog"...

The only one I've found that works fairly well is the Pathé soundbox with the integral elbow. You can use it on any pre-"fat arm" Victor. Just be aware that you will need the Edison stylus and not the Pathé ball stylus in it. There have been several of these on ebay of the years.

There is an adapter that goes directly on a Victor tone arm call the 'Vicsonia' reproducer. It will play Pathé and Edison discs and it works quite well.

The Jewel Company made an adapter and also supplied the Pathé and Diamond Disc needles...

I saw a Victor machine with a Brunswick reproducer attached to the arm in an ingenious way... if I can get a picture, I will post it.

Here are two different types that were made to play "all records"... Sterling and Jewel...

I have two Vicsonia reproducers that I use on my Victors when I decide to listen to one of my Pathé vertically cut records. I've never tried using my Vicsonias to play my Edison Diamond Discs on the Victors because I have Edison Diamond Disc phonographs but I believe they would play just fine. The Vicsonia reproducer is very well made and they can be expensive particularly if you are competing to purchase one with another who also appreciates its virtues. I have several videos on my YT channel that demonstrate play of the Vicsonia on one of my Victor III machines. A little related sideline to this: my personal favorite features play of a Pathé record from my collection by Rube Goldberg (the famous cartoonist) here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8thTk_zy_A. I believe this is the only commercially released recording of Rube Goldberg speaking. Unfortunately, the master was noisy since the record itself is like new. This is a very humorous recording and clearly demonstrates Rube's good sense of humor. Here is another of my videos featuring a 14 inch Pathé center start that better demonstrates the Vicsonia sound: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jl3i1weDZNQ. Along with the other reproducers mentioned above, the Vicsonia reproducer would also be a good choice IMHO if you can find one.

Doug

The Claravox reproducer was designed for this purpose and works quite well. It has a paper and cork diaphragm which appears to have been patterned after the Edison product, and a diamond point which is generally well made.

Rube Goldberg Orange Squeezing Device, which also allows your son to become President...