The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Even back in the day, people knew that their records contained words that were just shameful. This horn was designed to help those naughty and distasteful lyrics slip out the side of the horn and hopefully avoid the ears of the listener. This rare "one of a kind" all brass (except those missing spots) horn can be yours for $50 or a good Exhibition reproducer. Shipping or a a gentle "life flight" copter delivery is extra. Delivery to Union or APS is encouraged and free.

Jerry Blais

Whassat? Pot metal?! Serious question: what would make brass fall to pieces like that? I've never seen it. Is it too much zinc? That's the first thing that comes to mind.

Jerry, I think you should raise your price a little. In the right hands, that thing could end up on Etsy as a $2500 lamp! Some of Russell Hunting's more ribald cylinders wouldn't even play through this -- some of Cal Stewart's dirtier jokes wouldn't make any sense.

...it's a nice piece though, and one that any collector would envy.

WELL; @#$%!!!

Jerry, I'm sorry, but your censorship horn is not complete. It is missing the bad word filter cartridge over the side opening. Without it foul language would simply go un-filtered out on the side, thus defeating the whole purpose of the contraption. You may be able to build one yourself from the HEPA filter of a vacuum cleaner, but of course you will loose originality.

Thanks for offering this rare historic artifact for sale.

Andreas

A possible reason for the shattered look of the brass, is that it was not annealed properly. The same thing has been seen in repro black/brass witches hats horns of a few years ago... the bells crack.

lol! Jerry,4 large holes, use 2 2"washers w/tiny centerholes, adjoined by a Nut & bolt. 4 small holes, illl send U sum Menditz,which R an identical item,just 4 holes up 2
½ ". They're an Antique Hardware item that they uzt 2 uz 2 fix Granite Ware, Aluminum pots&pans, & Hot water bags of ALL things! lil whassur address, Jerry, I'll send U 2, I have 4. Stephen Lavoie, (the guy that bit the empt Victrola 50 cabinet).

Cody K wrote:Whassat? Pot metal?! Serious question: what would make brass fall to pieces like that? I've never seen it. Is it too much zinc? That's the first thing that comes to mind.

Jerry, I think you should raise your price a little. In the right hands, that thing could end up on Etsy as a $2500 lamp! Some of Russell Hunting's more ribald cylinders wouldn't even play through this -- some of Cal Stewart's dirtier jokes wouldn't make any sense.

...it's a nice piece though, and one that any collector would envy.

Those are stress cracks caused by a failure to anneal the brass after it was formed, (or in metallurgical terms, "cold worked"). Forming the brass sets up forces internal to the material. After many decades of this force acting on the brass, it finally fractures. Stress relieving after cold working essentially softens the brass and relieves those internal forces. Bottom line, the original manufacturers never expected or cared that anyone would be concerned about these things over 100 years later so they just didn't bother to take that step.

One bump and done. The recycle is picked up tomorrow.

Jerry Blais