The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

So first, I have to apologize for being a true neophyte. I've only just recently started collecting phonographs and at Union this year I picked up my first two-minute machine, a Columbia Q. I also got a half dozen Gold Moulded records and it plays them all fine - loud and clear without any noticeable problems at all. Then just last week I picked up a batch of Indestructible two-minute records and I can't get any of them to play right. Some are skipping (the reproducer even visibly jumped clear of the record on one of them which kind of startled me!), most are "warbling" badly. Not having any previous experience with Indestructibles, I'm wondering whether it's just the records or whether there's anything I can do to the player to help the situation. After trying a few records and seeing little but poor results I'm a bit spooked about damaging the machine. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

It could be that celluloid shrinkage has messed up the groove and/or put the cylinder out of round.

GrafonolaG50 wrote:It could be that celluloid shrinkage has messed up the groove and/or put the cylinder out of round.

Agreed. Shrinkage will throw off the thread pitch.

If the cylinders are out of round, you'll be able to see them wobbling as they turn. There may be some tricks to get them back into shape, but I can't recall any.

Bill

I have seven Columbia Qs, and none of them play indestuctibles very well.
As has been stated, these records are frequently slightly out of true, and the material they are made from shrinks meaning that they are no longer 100TPI.
A phonograph with a weighted reproducer will cope with this, but the Columbia's light "floating " reproducer will bounce and skip.
I would put these records to one side for when you buy your next, heavier duty, machine.
Alistair.

Great pointers folks, I always thought it was just my Q that had these issues.

Thanks!

Fran

Chances are it is the record. Try it on a wax cylinder. If you have no problems that means the machine is OK. I have an early style Q with an original reproducer. The reproducer is allowed very little horizontal movement and will usually skip on indestructibles but not on wax. Even an Edison C, which has more horizontal movement will often skip at least once when playing an indestructible.

Jim

Thanks so much to everyone for your helpful replies! It sounds like this is not an uncommon problem and not due to any issue with my machine (it plays regular wax Edison cylinders with no problem at all).

One other question, though: if I go through the batch of Indestructibles that I bought and try them out, am I risking damaging my Columbia Q? The last thing I want is to risk damaging the stylus or something else on the machine. But I'm curious about whether some, at least, of these records are in decent enough condition that they're playable on this machine. (They all look fine from a cursory inspection, which is why I hadn't been able to figure out why I was getting such poor results but also means I can't easily determine their condition except by playing them.)

Are you sure all of your cylinders are 2 Min?

Larry

Talkophone wrote:Are you sure all of your cylinders are 2 Min?

Larry

That is a good point to make. If there is a 4M on the rim, then they are 4 minute records and they will not play on that machine. I would be surprised if some of your 2 minute Indestructible don't play on the Q. I have a Q and a similar Eagle, and they play Indestructibles pretty well. Unless your records have cracks, heavy scratches or pits in the playing surface, the stylus should not be injured trying them. I have never damaged a stylus in 49 years of playing cylinder records.

Talkophone wrote:Are you sure all of your cylinders are 2 Min?

Larry

Sometimes the simplest things are the hardest to see.

I'm guilty of looking for the more complex issues before seeing the simplest issue right in front of my own eyes. Thanks for pointing this out Larry!

We can always learn more.

Best,
Fran