The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Looking through the junk box and came across these two adapters which allow competitor records to be played on Edison machines. the first is a Kent as it has a Kent reproducer (at least it looks like the word Kent). The Sterling works great. Unfortunately the reproducer on the Kent arm does not line up with the record at all and will not work. I found a photo of a Kent adapter on one of the Antique Radio Sites it shows both a Victor reproducer and a Kent reproducer on the arm. I tried a Victor on mine and it fit/lined up perfectly, it appears that my reproducer is not a Kent. Wonder if Victor had a hand in producing these adapters.

Thanks Cheers

Bill K

I'd move this post to the NI (No Interest) file but I can't find it

Cheers Bill K

There's interest! I think these pics explain the Kent soundbox problem: it's an earlier version, meant for their lateral + Pathé arm.

Intentionally removed by author.

Thanks Edisone appreciate the info. Yes, clearly the Kent reproducer I have is incorrect. The arm works great with a Victor Exhibition on it, now I have another orphan reproducer Thanks again.

Bill K

I think this may be the best place to ask this question. I know very lttile about the 78 adapters other than what they do. Steve Medved's advice to me was to skip the bent arm stuff and get the straight adapters. I have the chance to buy a Sterling or a an All-in-One. Neither has been rebuilt and the gold finish is nearly gone on both. Price is $90 plus shipping for either one. So here goes:

1) Thoughts on the straight vs bent arm thing. Considering the job Steve has done on my reproducer I don't doubt his knowledge but a second opinion is also welcome.

2) Between these two is there any difference? Or whichever one sounds better in its current condition.

3) Thoughts on price.

Thanks for any help!

I have a couple later adapters for the Diamond Disc machines, one with the long arm as pictured in the first post.

I have another one like the one pictured by Edisone ( shorter, festival of knuckle-joints.).

The short, jointed one came with a reproducer that looks similar to a Kent, but bears no ID markings that I can find.


The longer, nickle-plated arm is a Kent, and has a bayonet fitting like a Victor goose-neck. An Exhibition or a #2 fits nicely.


That said, I have tried both, and haven't been entirely convinced of proper tracking geometry for lateral-cut records, either transverse across the record face to the spindle, or the angle between the needle and record (somewhat adjustable on the short, jointed arm).

I do not have the instructions for either arm (the multi-jointed one came with my first C-19), so I may not have the machine & arm set-up correctly... there's so many angles / joints / variables that enter into the picture.

For myself, I regard them as a neat party-trick, but not something I would rely on for regular playing of my good lateral-cut discs.


From a design standpoint, I think the straight-line /ball-joint adapter is probably kinder to the records...

Some adapters were more versatile than others. Some designs allowed the head to be rotated to position the diaphragm facing forwards - meaning that vertical-cut records besides Edison could be played on an Edison, such as Pathé or some Okeh or some Aeolian-Vocaltion disks. Some of those formats such as Pathé and Okeh required a sapphire ball stylus, while others such as A-V required a regular steel needle. I use a Fletcher adapter for such things.

De Soto Frank wrote:I have a couple later adapters for the Diamond Disc machines, one with the long arm as pictured in the first post.

I have another one like the one pictured by Edisone ( shorter, festival of knuckle-joints.).

The short, jointed one came with a reproducer that looks similar to a Kent, but bears no ID markings that I can find.


The longer, nickle-plated arm is a Kent, and has a bayonet fitting like a Victor goose-neck. An Exhibition or a #2 fits nicely.


That said, I have tried both, and haven't been entirely convinced of proper tracking geometry for lateral-cut records, either transverse across the record face to the spindle, or the angle between the needle and record (somewhat adjustable on the short, jointed arm).

I do not have the instructions for either arm (the multi-jointed one came with my first C-19), so I may not have the machine & arm set-up correctly... there's so many angles / joints / variables that enter into the picture.

For myself, I regard them as a neat party-trick, but not something I would rely on for regular playing of my good lateral-cut discs.


From a design standpoint, I think the straight-line /ball-joint adapter is probably kinder to the records...

Frank, I agree that some are better than others and I've heard that that the Kent is among the best. I have another brand, not Kent with a properly rebuilt reproducer and it really sounds fantastic, rivaling my Victor V. I think they can be really excellent imho.

Are there any scans / reprints of instructions available on the WW Web ?