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Hi everybody! I've just bought a Fletcher-Wickes hexagonal soundbox, and I'm waiting to receive it. I'd like to get some opinions on this reproducer, whose sound quality should be quit good, even if it's probably not so good as that of an EMG or similar. I found in an interesting link (http://www.freepatentsonline.com/1446006.html) its patent, and the detailed description of the reproducer lets me hope in something really nice and good... Your opinion and if possible some more details on this company are very important for me!
Thank you!
Fletcher-Wickes reproducer
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Carlo 1963
- Victor Jr
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FloridaClay
- Victor VI
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Re: Fletcher-Wickes reproducer
Carlo, you link doesn't go to the patent, but to info for some personal injury lawyer.
Clay
Clay
Arthur W. J. G. Ord-Hume's Laws of Collecting
1. Space will expand to accommodate an infinite number of possessions, regardless of their size.
2. Shortage of finance, however dire, will never prevent the acquisition of a desired object, however improbable its cost.
1. Space will expand to accommodate an infinite number of possessions, regardless of their size.
2. Shortage of finance, however dire, will never prevent the acquisition of a desired object, however improbable its cost.
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gramophone78
- Victor VI
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Re: Fletcher-Wickes reproducer
Although, the Fletcher reproducer body is hexagonal. The mica diaphragm is still just an ordinary round shape. Therefore, the sound is as good as any other reproducer of that period.
Here is one marked for the McLagan Funtinture Co. Canada who used these on their models. Ironically, McLagan made a model with a similar case design.
Here is one marked for the McLagan Funtinture Co. Canada who used these on their models. Ironically, McLagan made a model with a similar case design.
Last edited by gramophone78 on Sun Apr 05, 2015 9:43 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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estott
- Victor Monarch
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Re: Fletcher-Wickes reproducer
I have one- it sounds good, but not at all exceptional.
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Carlo 1963
- Victor Jr
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- Location: Northern Italy
Re: Fletcher-Wickes reproducer
Thank you for the prompt answers and for the attachments! I'll compare this reproducer with other ones and I'll tell you my (very personal indeed) opinion.
Best greetings
Carlo
Best greetings
Carlo
- Attachments
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- Sorry for the poor quality, but at this moment it's the only image I have, because I haven't yet received the soundbox.
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- US1452498A.pdf
- Perhaps it's not the patent, but in any case it's a description of the soundbox...
- (147.03 KiB) Downloaded 54 times
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Henry
- Victor V
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- Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania
Re: Fletcher-Wickes reproducer
Clay, you have to click the "Download PDF" button, and then you get: http://www.freepatentsonline.com/1446006.pdfFloridaClay wrote:Carlo, you link doesn't go to the patent, but to info for some personal injury lawyer.
Clay
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FloridaClay
- Victor VI
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Re: Fletcher-Wickes reproducer
OK, thanks!Henry wrote:Clay, you have to click the "Download PDF" button, and then you get: http://www.freepatentsonline.com/1446006.pdfFloridaClay wrote:Carlo, you link doesn't go to the patent, but to info for some personal injury lawyer.
Clay
Clay
Arthur W. J. G. Ord-Hume's Laws of Collecting
1. Space will expand to accommodate an infinite number of possessions, regardless of their size.
2. Shortage of finance, however dire, will never prevent the acquisition of a desired object, however improbable its cost.
1. Space will expand to accommodate an infinite number of possessions, regardless of their size.
2. Shortage of finance, however dire, will never prevent the acquisition of a desired object, however improbable its cost.
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estott
- Victor Monarch
- Posts: 4176
- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2009 4:23 pm
- Personal Text: I have good days...this might not be one of them
- Location: Albany NY
Re: Fletcher-Wickes reproducer
I like the way the needle bar is held in place by just two spring wires, but otherwise it's a gimmick soundbox- the sound passes through the little holes at the edge and then through another perforated plate in the throat- supposedly it gets filtered. With that path to follow I'm surprised it has any volume at all.
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gramophone78
- Victor VI
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- Location: Western Canada
Re: Fletcher-Wickes reproducer
estott, it's like filtered cigarettes being better for your lungs...estott wrote:I like the way the needle bar is held in place by just two spring wires, but otherwise it's a gimmick soundbox- the sound passes through the little holes at the edge and then through another perforated plate in the throat- supposedly it gets filtered. With that path to follow I'm surprised it has any volume at all.
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VintageTechnologies
- Victor IV
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Re: Fletcher-Wickes reproducer
I have an adapter to play 78s on an Edison and it employs the Fletcher reproducer. Some of the Pathé recordings that I have posted on this website were played using that reproducer. Once the hardened rubber (tube) gaskets have been replaced, they sound every bit as good as any other mica-diaphragmed reproducer that I have ever heard. The strange baffles seem to make no effect, good or bad. Removing and carefully replacing the stiff wire springs that hold the needle bar in place was more difficult compared to rebuilding other reproducers. There must have been a specialized tool to assist installing them at the factory.