The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I know I am not supposed to, but if I really wanted a nice, rich sound out of a celluloid cylinder, could I jury rig it to play with a DD reproducer? (I tested it a little on a BA and it sounded mad decent, didn't really look like it hurt the record at all but I still want some feedback. It did slow the mandrel down.)

In addition to being significantly heavier than a Diamond A/B/C stylus, the Diamond Disc stylus is the wrong size. Blue Amberols have 200 tpi and a Diamond Disc has only 150.

As far as I know, the Diamond discs and Blue Amberol grooves are cut with a 21 thousandths stylus, should be the same. I would think that it would be ok on acetone made Blue Amberols, but the water dyed ones will wear out very quickly (they usually are worn out by now anyway). I have experimented with this too, it works, but yet, wear is going to be much quicker.

Okay. That's all I wanted to know. You mentioned water dyed BAs, are those the powder blue ones?

winsleydale wrote:Okay. That's all I wanted to know. You mentioned water dyed BAs, are those the powder blue ones?

Not necessarily: the color of BAs was often subject to temperature and humidity at the time the celluloid was dyed. If the color is uneven or streaky, it was probably water dyed.

Bill

So what was the deal with the powder blue ones, then? I thought that they were very quickly worn out, to the point where dealers would exchange them for you if you were unsatisfied.