The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

With no disrespect to Edison (I love Edison machines and records), was the Edisonic reproducer basically the same concept as the Victrola No. 4 reproducer (basically an upgrade to the older machine to play electric recordings)?

Victrolacollector wrote:With no disrespect to Edison (I love Edison machines and records), was the Edisonic reproducer basically the same concept as the Victrola No. 4 reproducer (basically an upgrade to the older machine to play electric recordings)?

I believe that's true. I've read that the heavier weight on the Edisonic reproducer was meant to reduce "blast" coming off the surfaces of the electrically-recorded discs that Edison began releasing in 1927. Otherwise that reproducer is unchanged from its previous (or "standard") version.

Edison was good about offering upgrades for older phonographs.

Ralph

pughphonos wrote:

Victrolacollector wrote:With no disrespect to Edison (I love Edison machines and records), was the Edisonic reproducer basically the same concept as the Victrola No. 4 reproducer (basically an upgrade to the older machine to play electric recordings)?

I believe that's true. I've read that the heavier weight on the Edisonic reproducer was meant to reduce "blast" coming off the surfaces of the electrically-recorded discs that Edison began releasing in 1927. Otherwise that reproducer is unchanged from its previous (or "standard") version.

Edison was good about offering upgrades for older phonographs.

Ralph

The Edisonic also had a spring-loaded stylus bar that was supposed to better control the stylus during the more modulated passages of electrically recorded discs. IIRC, the diaphragm is also slightly thicker, perhaps for a dampening effect?

Perhaps the thicker diaphragm was necessary to support the heavier weight without sagging. I have both a Dance reproducer and Edisonic reproducer and note that while they play do louder, a regular reproducer will play the electric Diamond Discs pretty well if it tuned up with new gaskets. There is no doubt that the heavier weights impose more wear on the records, so I always use the regular reproducer except for demonstrations.