The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I was sorting old Literary Digest magazines and ran on to this ad in the October 31, 1914 issue. Any of you pups ever seen one of these devices or better still tried one on a machine? I wonder what it sounded like. I rather suspect that the effect would be like putting one's finger on the the diaphragm when playing a record.

Jim

Jim,
Here is the attachment I have in my collection.

That's great! And have you tried it on a machine?
Jim

Lenoirstreetguy wrote:That's great! And have you tried it on a machine?
Jim

No, I can't say I have. I should see if it does anything. More than likely another gimmick... .

I had one, and no matter how hard I tried, could not get anything noteworthy to happen with it. I had the full instructions and followed them carefully, but no joy.

Another of he flim flam attachments it would seem. The only one that seems to work is the Lifebelt attachment that the Gramophone Magazine touted in the UK during the mid-twenties. It consists of a length of flexible rubber hose between the the tone arm and reproducer. I made a home brew version and use it all the time on the old Victor III. It does make a difference. The hose just adds more compliance to the system, but it does reduce surface noise and clean up the bass a tad.
Jim

Well, I must admit, I can't figure out how this is suppose to connect. Does the needle go on either side of the V cut out or..???. There is a hole in the center and logic tells me the needle should go through this hole. However, it can't. There is a blob of ..?? preventing this.

A little help please.
I will make a short video once I have it right.

It would appear from the column-ad the steel needle is supposed to go through the center-rivet area of the Masterphone disc ?

I don't know... looks kind of sketchy to me...

Also looks like it would be fiddly to change needles...


Probably similar to the various $1.98 gizmos that promised better gas mileage from your Model T Ford...

The needle goes through the hole in the center of the wafer. Got rid of mine quite a while ago now, with its instruction sheet, but if you look at the sketch in the ad you've got, it gives the general idea. Use a soft tone, thin, needle. Just push it thru the blob, I guess - probably that stuff originally was like putty.

Thank you Gentleman. I should have inspected this better with a loupe. There is a very small (angled) hole through the blob of resin. So, "fine" or "soft" tone needles are all you can use.

Tomorrow I will make a small video. However, I would not expect too much from this gimmick... .