The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I just sent for a glass diaphragm from http://www.cylinder.de/glass-diaphragms.html to use on my recorder. Has anybody got experience with these?

In my experience the recorders had thinner glass. Try it and tell us how you like them. I have plenty of glass diaphragms available, but only for Automatic, Standard Speaker, and Graphophones. I tried recording with them,,,,,with very weak results. The ones I use are 33mm glass microscope slip covers. For reproducers they are wonderful.

Norman is a highly detailed fellow, and I am excited to hear that new diaphragms are being manufactured in Germany! Maybe because I am ¼ German!

Okay, I just received the glass diaphragm. It is ever so thin! It came in a neat little plastic case, which is great because I can't put it in immediately. So, here's my next question: How should I install it? I am afraid of it cracking if I use too much heat. For context, last time I messed with my recorder, I used a soldering iron to melt my bead of wax around the perimeter, and also to melt the shellac that is holding the cutter to the diaphragm. Mind that I did not actually touch the soldering iron to the recorder, I just melted the wax and shellac with the radiant heat of the iron. I talked briefly about it with Mr. Bruderhofer and he said I would probably be fine, but what saith the Forum? Should I use shellack dissolved in alcohol instead of melting straight shellac? I also have some liquid hide glue, how do you think that would work? Chuck and Shawn, your input is especially desired.

Glass is used on Standard Speakers and Automatic recorders. If you have a later recorder with the separate floating disc under the recorder body, this takes very thin mica.

My last diaphragm was thin glass on a recorder with the floating disk. I would have reused it but it broke.

...Aaand this one is broken, as well. It came packed very safely and well, but my hands are just too unsteady for this sort of work, I guess. I have already ordered 2 replacements, and I thing I will just take them to Union along with my recorder body and cutter and have somebody who knows what they're doing have a go at it.

What a disappointment, I'm sorry for that.

Thank you... Luckily, they aren't very expensive, although it does take a bit for them to arrive from Germany.