The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I resorted to replacing my Edison Diamond Disc and Amberola 30 with the original diaphragms. I tried a few out there that just do not suit my liking while giving it that original look. I would like to think that my machines sound the same as they did almost 100 years ago, but seriously I am sure that the diaphragms probably wear. One dealer sold the round cardboard with what appeared to be dental floss string for the loop. There were some decent ones sold by APSCO, but it seemed the height may have been a little off by the thickness of the diaphragm or the length of the string.

Does anyone make a almost exact duplicate of an original Edison diaphragm?

People have tired and are still trying. Its not so simple as it seems. I think Edison was said to have tried well over a thousand different combinations of things before settling on the one we see as the original now.

I have found that there are those who want to hear the machine play as close to the original sound as possible an those who simply think it should look original. (not that anyone sees the diaphragm in most edisons when they are installed an playing) The design I have sold to quite a few pleased customers is nothing like the original in looks, but the sound is usually better than an original in original shape. I agree that most of the cardboard versions fall flat so to speak when it comes to bringing out more than the basic sound. I don't know if you have tried mine or not but if you want to hear the machine close to it sounded originally then perhaps you might wish to try it.

If you haven't listened to them here are over 400 videos of it playing.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClOSmi ... lECD2a-ckg

Larry

larryh wrote:People have tired and are still trying. Its not so simple as it seems. I think Edison was said to have tried well over a thousand different combinations of things before settling on the one we see as the original now.

I have found that there are those who want to hear the machine play as close to the original sound as possible an those who simply think it should look original. (not that anyone sees the diaphragm in most edisons when they are installed an playing) The design I have sold to quite a few pleased customers is nothing like the original in looks, but the sound is usually better than an original in original shape. I agree that most of the cardboard versions fall flat so to speak when it comes to bringing out more than the basic sound. I don't know if you have tried mine or not but if you want to hear the machine close to it sounded originally then perhaps you might wish to try it.

If you haven't listened to them here are over 400 videos of it playing.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClOSmi ... lECD2a-ckg

Larry

Larry your diaphragms sound really good, seems like I am hearing some additional instruments in there.

I was just wondering if we really have any idea of what the composition of the original diaphragms are? I notice that Edison's literature placed alot of emphasis on the diaphragm.

From Frows "The Edison Disc Phonograph"


For this Diaphragm, use of earlier materials such as glass, mica and metals was avoided, as a mellow non-metallic tone was desired. It was built up of layers of Japanese Rice Paper 0.001 in. thick, lacquered, dried and then compressed. Over 2,300 trials to achieve perfection were claimed, and up to 40 layers of tissue were said to be used, although this number was varied to suit the sound quality required. To stiffen this diaphragm a curved piece of cork was shellac-ed to its under surface, and an ivory cap secured to its top. Braided cotton or silk cord was connected to a wire link under the ivory cap, passed though the diaphragm centre and joined to the end of the stylus bar, connections being by precision made eyes.


Larry

larryh wrote:From Frows "The Edison Disc Phonograph"


For this Diaphragm, use of earlier materials such as glass, mica and metals was avoided, as a mellow non-metallic tone was desired. It was built up of layers of Japanese Rice Paper 0.001 in. thick, lacquered, dried and then compressed. Over 2,300 trials to achieve perfection were claimed, and up to 40 layers of tissue were said to be used, although this number was varied to suit the sound quality required. To stiffen this diaphragm a curved piece of cork was shellac-ed to its under surface, and an ivory cap secured to its top. Braided cotton or silk cord was connected to a wire link under the ivory cap, passed though the diaphragm centre and joined to the end of the stylus bar, connections being by precision made eyes.


Larry

And in a footnote:

"To demonstrate how small things mattered in preparing these diaphragms,it was found that if the shellac spread between the 40 layers of Japanese rice paper had de-natured alcohol as a solvent, this caused the diaphragm to warp, but grain alcohol gave no trouble."

Bill