The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Greetings,
I am currently making an edison tinfoil phonograph, and as it is now complete, of course there are problems. Mainly it's the mandrel. It's a little uneven, and I can't find a dowel big enough to fit the machine.... Plus I don't have a drill press, which means I will have to buy a pre-drilled cylinder. It would have to also be ½ inch diameter. Any ideas?
Thank you!
Callan

What tools do you have access to? Even a tinfoil phonograph requires some very accurate machining to be functional.

You may be able to use standard threaded rod and nuts for the axle, but the mandrel takes a good bit of work. You may not be able to find a ready-made wooden cylinder of large enough diameter for a mandrel; so you would have to take a wooden block (hardwood is best) and turn it on a lathe. Then you would have to drill the center out to fit the axle: there is really no substitute for a drill press, if you want to drill it straight and true.

There are rigs available that can turn a hand held electric drill into a drill press without too much cost, though.

I hope this information has been helpful to you.

Bill