The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I recently bought what I think is my first Oxford 2-minute celluloid cylinder, Put On Your Old Gray Bonnet, number 1303, off eBay. It arrived today and is in great condition. But the reason for the post is that the quality of the sound is really impressive! Possibly the best sounding cylinder I have. Is this typical of Oxford?

Clay

Many of them are indeed recorded well and playback well. You can hear 98% of the 2 minute cylinders on this YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/user/2minuteAlbanyArchive

This is one of my personal favorites:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRKD09fvBeA[/youtube]

I actively search and buy 2 min. Indestructible cylinders. They are durable, and play loud and clear. I have some black wax and even fewer brown wax, because of the fragility issue and mold. I have several of the Columbia machines with the Lyric reproducer, and that's what these records were designed for. If you play a black wax on a Columbia Lyric machine, you'll wear them out.
Harvey Kravitz

Phonofreak wrote:If you play a black wax on a Columbia Lyric machine, you'll wear them out.
Harvey Kravitz

I think that depends on the model of Lyric reproducer used.

The late Columbia Lyric machines that were fitted (or early ones later converted) with 2/4 minute combination gears used a special Lyric reproducer (a later #12 modified with with a smaller than usual stylus) that could play either 4M or 2M celluloid cylinders. I have examined one on a friend's machine and I suspect that the pointed stylus would eat wax records for breakfast. However, I really doubt the earlier 2M-only Lyric reproducer would, for several reasons.

Several models of Lyric reproducer were introduced during the wax era, as early as 1905, several years before Indestructible Records were. The #11's were weighted, the early #12's were spring loaded. I have four Graphophones using spring loaded reproducers. None exert a stylus pressure much different from that of an Edison "C" reproducer, and the stylii are shaped like a ball, rather than a doorknob. I have played wax records on those machines without ill effect.

There was also a #15 Extra Tension reproducer that used both spring and weight to provide greater stylus pressure for greater volume. It also had a small stylus to play both 2M & 4M celluloid cylinders. Another wax eater.

There is a great reference to all the various models of Columbia reproducers (and the respective machines they were used on) in Howard Hazelcorn's "Columbia Phonograph Companion Volume 1", a large and beautiful 300 page book.

The wax 2 minute Edisons sound equally as good as the Indestructibles in my opinion, that's if you can find them in excellent condition. I do agree though a clean I Indestructible that's well recorded can sound awesome!

I prefer good Indestructible records as well. I sold almost all of my Edison wax cylinders. I have maybe 5 of them left, I love Edison wax cylinders, but cringe at one breaking. I am not sure if it is just me, but it seems harder to find 2 minute Indestructible's with good popular titles than it is on wax.