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Funding for a replica studio Recorder for ENHP

Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2016 7:33 am
by edisonphonoworks
I think it would be very interesting to make a replica of the complete studio recorder at Edison Historical Park, so that it could be used in recording demonstrations by Gerald Fabris. I have figured pretty much how to make the recording head perform well (and it does sound better than a home recorder). The replicas should be made of aluminum as it would be easier on the triumph phonograph,also a large, balanced flywheel made for the Triumph, solid brass mandrel, the main shaft having a feed screw of 97 ⅓ tpi, and a secondary chain driven feed screw having the same pitch, but geared for four minute off the back.

Re: Funding for a replica studio Recorder for ENHP

Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2016 1:26 pm
by JerryVan
Do you have a photo of the recorder you're referring to?

Re: Funding for a replica studio Recorder for ENHP

Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2016 3:52 pm
by Chuck
Funding:

That's an easy one:

Just buy the Mahogany Edison Opera w/model L
Reproducer which has been advertised for sale
for many months now in the Yankee Trader section
of this forum, for the listed price of $800.00

Then turn around and sell it.

There is your funding!

Re: Funding for a replica studio Recorder for ENHP

Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2016 11:26 pm
by edisonphonoworks
This is the studio recorder that Is in the museum, this is one of the most complete lathes they have there, It would have made both two and four minute masters, they are not geared for 100 and 200 threads like regular phonographs but the main feed screw is 97 ⅓ tpi although in court cases it is said they had different pitches for different wax masters ranging from 96-99 tpi. For four minute there is gearing at the back of the machine, that is chain driven, that turns a 97 ⅓ feed screw, once for every two turns of the main shaft for making four minute masters. The one in my collection was passed from one collector to another, ignorant as what the strange setup was for, and was damaged, and not recognized for it's historical significance. The original lathes some had locks on the speed adjustment, so it would not be bumped during recording. The left bushing casting, was taken off and a larger one added to facilitate a large flywheel to give a smoother turn of the mandrel and give inertia to drive the heavy recording head across the record. The center, mandrel guide was also removed, so that when the end gate was opened the whole mandrel assembly could be removed. It is believed that master cylinders were shaved on the mandrel of the recording phonograph on a special shaving machine that accepted the recording phonograph mandrel, from experience the master cylinders must have no eccentricities or the recording depth is altered. Their were many recording heads for different purposes, with different thickness of diaphragm, stylus and dampening material, the recording heads that recorded cylinders, also fit on the disc lathe for Edison Diamond Discs.

Re: Funding for a replica studio Recorder for ENHP

Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2016 1:25 pm
by martinola
Hi Shawn.

First of all, thanks for posting the cool photos and descriptions. On first reading I was a little confused on what you were proposing: recreating the recording head or the whole recording phonograph? I'm thinking now that you mean to recreate the entire phonograph including recording head? If so, would that be based on one of the least complete recording machines at the Edison Site or would it be a conversion of a donor Triumph machine from somewhere else? It's an interesting idea and I can imagine that it would be doable with the parameters firmly nailed-down.

Regards,
Martin

Re: Funding for a replica studio Recorder for ENHP

Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2016 4:42 pm
by welshfield
Shawn:
I suggest the following:
1. Make engineering drawings of each part required, noting the material to be used for each part.
2. Get quotes from machinists capable of this work. Perhaps someone on this Forum is such a machinist.
3. Have the parts machined by the best quote/most capable machinist (not usually one and the same).
4. I also suggest you considering having three to five sets of parts machined. Once you pay for the setup to make one, you might as well get several of them.
5. Sell off one or two of the spares to recoup at least some of your costs.
John

Re: Funding for a replica studio Recorder for ENHP

Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2016 10:38 pm
by edisonphonoworks
It would be based on an Edison Triumph motor, and bedplate, so an originale topworks is not destroyed a broken one could be use, or better yet a new one could be made of steel, not necessary to be cast iron, as it just needs to be the shape of a Class M topworks, minus the center bushing, and then added the larger bushing part for the flywheel. For the best results the straight edge would be longer than regular so the carriage can travel in both directions a little farther, as 97 ⅓ is much coarser. The only actual topworks part needed would be an end gate, and even that can be newly made. I have photos of a good carriage and can blow it up to the size of the Edison triumph carriage tube size, and get measurements from it. We have some of the equipment needed to make the parts, 3 small lathes, however the feedscrews (two are needed, one that goes with the mainshaft for two minute recording, then one that goes behind with the chain drive for four minute recording.) I have a damaged original for size.