The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi All,
I recently learned of the special recorder head for the Edison 1-A phonograph. Eventually, I wondered if there was a special recorder head for the later Amberola 30, 50, and 75 etc. phonographs. If any one has one, would they kindly show a photograph of their's on the forum. I will now also search the forum for the existence of a posted photo.
Thank you Kindly,
Allen
I did the search and found that the 1-A used the regular recorder and a special attachment to hold the recorder and a special horn.
I presume the early Amberola machines that took the B reproducer could use the regular recorder with an insert to adapt the diameter change but how did the later machines that used the reproducers that had a horizontal sound outlet record?
Allen

"Is there recorder for the Edison Amberola 30, 50 & 75 etc. phonographs?!?!?".

Allen, I am not aware of any normal "standard recorder" that was available for the Amberola 30, 50 & 75 phonographs. These were diamond tipped stylus phonographs meant for playing 4 minute Blue Amberol or 4 Minute Indestructible cylinders only, not meant for recording cylinders.

With all that being said, There was a Special ICS (International Correspondence School) Amberola 30 created with a special recording attachment that was basically an adapter ring that fit into the Diamond C Reproducer carriage mount hole opening that would accept a 4 minute Recorder, and a 4 minute Model "H" Sapphire Reproducer. A nickeled tube connector also went along with this to connect the 4 minute recorder or 4 minute reproducer to the horn. These Special attachments were meant for ICS Amberola 30's ONLY but of course could be used on the 50 and 75 machines as well as any regular Amberola 30. ICS Amberola 30's are seldom seen today, but they are out there. They were offered for a long time, from 1915 all the way through 1927. They were mostly used for learning languages and language dictation.

)

Tony K.

Edison Collector/Restorer

Couldn't you use an adaptor to reduce the opening in the carriage and a normal four minute recorder? Jerry B.

Thank you both for responding to my request for information.
I think Tony has the best solution but I now would say an option would be to use an insert, a 4 min, recorder, and an Edison recording or some other horn. My first, thought that caused my question, was there might have been a 4min. reproducer and a recorder with a horizontal sound outlets that would replace the diamond reproducer allowing the internal horn to be used in making the recording.
Allen

"My first, thought that caused my question, was there might have been a 4min. reproducer and a recorder with a horizontal sound outlets that would replace the diamond reproducer allowing the internal horn to be used in making the recording."

Yes. I think that you are correct. I do believe that is the way that it worked. It utilized the internal Amberola 30 horn to act as the recording horn for the 4 minute recorder on the ICS Amberola 30. I have never seen any literature showing any external horns attached to the ICS Amberola 30, so I believe that you hit the nail on the head Allen, It used the lower Amberola 30 internal horn, and not an external one.,though of course an external setup could have easily been created...I don't believe that was the way it was originally intended for the ICS Amberola 30.

Here's an excerpt of a Page p.290 from George Frow's Edison Cylinder Phonograph Companion Book - A MUST GET book if you are an Edison phonograph lover. The first paragraph article refers to the seldom seen Edison ICS Amberola 30 with a picture of the different ICS Amberola 30 top reproducer area.




)

Tony K.

Edison Collector/Restorer

I thought I would post some pictures of an original ISC Model-H reproducer with the modified weight. A standard Model-H will not work on the Ambetola 30. Also pictured is an original ISC horn connector for the Model-H reproducer and a 4-minute recorder and adapter ring.

Rich Gordon

thank you most kindly!
Allen

Much Thanks for the photos of the original parts Rich. I had completely forgotten that the Fishtail weight is cut off on the ICS Amberola 30 Model "H" Reproducer.

Thanks for the reminder!

)

Tony K.

Edison Collector/Restorer