The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

My A250 came with it's original reproducer and it had never been serviced since it was sold by the Edison company. I was hesitant to replace the diaphragm, because I value originality and because it worked. Then I met a fellow forum member who's user name is Pughphonos. I went to his home and heard his Edison playing using a replacement diaphragm built by forum member Larryh. The sound was so clear and alive, but still I hesitated. Then Pughphonos came to my house and brought his rebuilt reproducer, which I substituted for my own. I was finally sold and contacted Larryh who sent me the diaphragm with two gaskets. I had never tried to tinker with my reproducer before, but with instructions from Larryh, I forged ahead and discovered that the original cork diaphragm was yellow and hard. I also found that both gaskets were toast. I also found a dead moth that looked quite old. I carefully cleaned the inside of the reproducer and the replacement installation was easy. The first time I played a diamond disk record with the rebuilt reproducer, it was a revelation. It really is a "Listeners" diaphragm. All the instruments come across so well with a truly balanced sound. It's much louder, but it doesn't blow you out of your chair. I like playing diamond disk Jazz records and I will be enjoying them more than ever now. Big thanks to my friend Pughphonos and the tinkering genius, Larryh. If you like to play great music on your Edison Diamond Disk machine, I strongly recommend that you send a PM to Larryh right away. Thanks also to the Talking Machine Forum for enlightenment and delight.

Hi,
I have a like new Edisonic reproducer and a older Edison DD reproducer rebuilt by Steve with not only a new diaphragm but also a new stylus and they are comparable in sound quality with the Edisonic about one volume level louder. They both sound fantastic but the cost of the older reproducer, stylus, and diaphragm was much lower than the cost of the like new Edisonic. I highly advise the work and quality of sound that Steve can give any ones reproducer.
I recently demonstrated each of my reproducers to two phonograph collector friends on the machine of one at his store. They both expressed the desire to have their reproducers rebuilt by Steve with new diaphragms and styluses.
Best regards,
Allen

A Ford 1 wrote:Hi,
I have a like new Edisonic reproducer and a older Edison DD reproducer rebuilt by Steve with not only a new diaphragm but also a new stylus and they are comparable in sound quality with the Edisonic about one volume level louder. They both sound fantastic but the cost of the older reproducer, stylus, and diaphragm was much lower than the cost of the like new Edisonic. I highly advise the work and quality of sound that Steve can give any ones reproducer.
I recently demonstrated each of my reproducers to two phonograph collector friends on the machine of one at his store. They both expressed the desire to have their reproducers rebuilt by Steve with new diaphragms and styluses.
Best regards,
Allen

I might be interested in replacing my stylus. Do I have to ship it to Steve? How much and how long will it take?

Hi audiophile102,
It would be best to contact Steve Medved at [email protected] but if you can easily remove the stylus bar on your own that should be OK to send I should think. I would contact him directly if I were you and discus it with him. The cost of a stylus installed in your bar from Steve is on the order of $80.00 or so plus postage or shipping as I recall and an rebuilding your reproducer with new gaskets and diaphragm by Larryh was on the order of a new English manufactured stylus in a bar as I recall (people seem to not have a high opinion of the English manufactured styluses but you can check the forum for their comments).
Please check with Steve Sincerely,
Allen

audiophile102 wrote:My A250 came with it's original reproducer and it had never been serviced since it was sold by the Edison company. I was hesitant to replace the diaphragm, because I value originality and because it worked. Then I met a fellow forum member who's user name is Pughphonos. I went to his home and heard his Edison playing using a replacement diaphragm built by forum member Larryh. The sound was so clear and alive, but still I hesitated. Then Pughphonos came to my house and brought his rebuilt reproducer, which I substituted for my own. I was finally sold and contacted Larryh who sent me the diaphragm with two gaskets. I had never tried to tinker with my reproducer before, but with instructions from Larryh, I forged ahead and discovered that the original cork diaphragm was yellow and hard. I also found that both gaskets were toast. I also found a dead moth that looked quite old. I carefully cleaned the inside of the reproducer and the replacement installation was easy. The first time I played a diamond disk record with the rebuilt reproducer, it was a revelation. It really is a "Listeners" diaphragm. All the instruments come across so well with a truly balanced sound. It's much louder, but it doesn't blow you out of your chair. I like playing diamond disk Jazz records and I will be enjoying them more than ever now. Big thanks to my friend Pughphonos and the tinkering genius, Larryh. If you like to play great music on your Edison Diamond Disk machine, I strongly recommend that you send a PM to Larryh right away. Thanks also to the Talking Machine Forum for enlightenment and delight.

So glad that things worked out for you so well and that you're satisfied, John! I agree with you entirely: Larry's diaphragm does give you all the separate voices/instruments/elements--in what I can only call "stereo mono."

Sounds like you're all set--unless you want a new stylus (re. Allen's suggestion). Totally up to you. I think as long as your original stylus is holding up there's no rush on that.

Ralph

Hi All,
If you have examined your stylus with a 50x to 100x power pocket microscope and found that there are no chips and it is not worn I would agree that one should stick with an original stylus, but most DD styluses per Steve are badly worn if not also chipped. This may not be so true of long play styluses.

I sent my diamond A reproducer to Steve to have a new diaphragm installed and he informed me that the stylus had a chip up near the area at the top of the grove so it might not damage the bottom of the Amberol grove but might do damage to the top edge. I chose to have it replaced.

The DD reproducer I sent him not only had a broken stylus that I saw but the axle that the stylus bar pivots on was buggered up, and the diaphragm was warped.

I will be sending the new LP reproducer from the original long play kit I own to Steve to day in hopes that the stylus design can be reverse engineered from a new unused one.

Best Regards to all,
Allen

Is "Larry's" diaphragm the yellow colored foam one or one of the original construction style? There's a few new diaphragms being made or at least experimented with lately. I can't keep track of who's is who's. Could someone post a photo of each style and who makes them? (Maybe in a different forum thread)

In my opinion, there is nothing that can match the sound of a good DD machine with a good reproducer and a high numbered 52000 record.
I have some old, say 15 years old Expert stylus I have never used. Would it sound better if I used Larrys diaphragm with the old stylus?

Larry makes the yellow plastic one and is on page two of the membership list and I am sure Larry will put you in contact with the other maker.
Best Regards,
Allen

Amberola wrote:In my opinion, there is nothing that can match the sound of a good DD machine with a good reproducer and a high numbered 52000 record.
I have some old, say 15 years old Expert stylus I have never used. Would it sound better if I used Larry's diaphragm with the old stylus?

As Allen confirmed, Larry's diaphragm is the yellow foam one. Larry's a true gentleman and gives all the other current diaphragm inventors their due. He can help with those references, but a couple of them (Victrola Boy and Phonoboy) have already posted on here and you can search out testimony regarding their products.

There's also been testimony on this thread (stretching back a couple years) that the current Expert stylus isn't good and causes record damage; as for those that were made 15 years ago, they might be fine. Steve Medved has plenty of fans for his stylus--as is well-documented via testimony on this forum. But yes, if your old stylus is still good, paring it with one of Larry's yellow foam diaphragms is a good way to go.

Ralph