The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I'm having trouble getting a shiny cut with my 1905 Edison shaving machine; how should the cutter be adjusted for best performance?

What I'm wondering is this: what is the purpose of the thumbscrew (circled in the attached photo), and does the shaving blade go bevel up or down?

The purpose of the ring that you circled is a stop to keep the shaver from coming out of the carriage. The beveled edge of the sapphire cutter should face down. Here is a picture of my shaver. My shaver has the electric motor option and you can see it in operation at this link. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sxxkFY-yJys

The surface of the cylinder as it is being shaved
should always be turning toward the flat side.

That produces the situation in which the wax
on the surface of the record first contacts the shaver
cutter at the flat side, which is the place where the
cutting happens.

The flat side makes the cut.

Thanks Chuck; that was a clear description.

While working with the cutter assembly, I figured out that that knob that I circled (that goes through the retaining ring, like Rich stated), tilts the cutter. Now my question is, what is the angle of the cutter in relation to the blank. Should one edge be trailing, or should it be flat agains the blank?

It should be flat against the cylinder. Another way to put this is the surface of the cylinder and the flat side of the cutter should form two parallel edges. Here is what my shaved cylinders look like. I think they are outstanding.

Rich Gordon

Thanks Rich; the shaver is now working and taking nice cuts!

https://youtu.be/6B5U3GUNBjw

This is a video showing my 1930 era shaver, the knob on mine changes the angle of the cutter, it does several things, it lets you use a different part of your blade to compensate wear, the way it is supposed to be is centered so the center of your shaver knife shaves the blank, sometimes though it wears and you can move it to another part of the blade that is in better condition. I wish though that new shaver blades were available, I have worn out three shaving knives. Beings I do professional work, only a sapphire one will do. I certainly hope you are not shaving original brown wax!!! That is a huge NO NO!!!!

No, not original brown wax, just Dictaphone and Ediphone blanks. BTW, what is the largest feasible diameter of the blank for recording on an Edison phonograph?

It seems that most original brown wax blanks were shaved around 2.180" in diameter. I will be finding that out, when what I hope is an untouched original brown wax Edison blank arrives, the first thing I am going to do is of course measure the diameter. NO I will not be recording on it, it is just a model or reference for research. I shave mine for customers 2.196, when possible. I always remind people though that when reproducers are rebuilt, the c shaped link, may be different. If someone rebuilds a recorder, and thicker gaskets were added, or the copper holder for the recording stylus made taller, you should always check the clearance of your reproducer and recorder before recording or playback. As Chuck Richards suggest making wire spacers.