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I posted another post similar to this several years ago about my Edison Model C reproducer on my Edison Standard. The fishtail weight swings immediately to the left when I set down the reproducer on the smooth part of the cylinder, and thus the limit pin touches the limit loop which eventually causes some skipping on the record. For a while it seemed to have fixed itself but recently its gone back to skipping again. I don't know what to do and I feel like I've tried everything. I adjusted the hinge block which appeared to be slightly bent to no avail, and I adjusted the limit loop which was also slightly bent, again to no avail. I've tried adjusting the feed screw, stylus link, and it still swings to the left when playing. This is driving me nuts! If anybody has any ideas they would be willing to share with me I would be incredibly grateful!

-Steve

A few thoughts:

Does this happen with all cylinders, most cylinders or just a few? How do the same cylinders play on another machine or with another reproducer if you have more than one? Most cylinders will play properly, but some won't no matter what you do.

Is the stylus worn? I don't know if that could cause your problem, but it's worth a look.

Is the reproducer sitting squarely down in the carriage eye with the slot in the reproducer aligned with the locating pin in the carriage? If you have a potmetal reproducer, you could have alignment problems due to deformation of the reproducer body.

Is the machine sitting reasonably level. If the right end is higher than the left, that could be the cause of your problem. The answer might be a new set of rubber feet or the surface on which the machine is sitting may not be level.

Until you get this figured out, you could simply hold the edge of the weight with your finger to keep the limit loop centered until the stylus drops into the groove. It should play OK after that. It is highly unlikely that the feedscrew has anything to do with your problem because that wouldn't cause it to skate to the left as it does. BTW: what type of cylinders are you playing?

Jim

phonojim wrote:A few thoughts:

Does this happen with all cylinders, most cylinders or just a few? How do the same cylinders play on another machine or with another reproducer if you have more than one? Most cylinders will play properly, but some won't no matter what you do.

Is the stylus worn? I don't know if that could cause your problem, but it's worth a look.

Is the reproducer sitting squarely down in the carriage eye with the slot in the reproducer aligned with the locating pin in the carriage? If you have a potmetal reproducer, you could have alignment problems due to deformation of the reproducer body.

Is the machine sitting reasonably level. If the right end is higher than the left, that could be the cause of your problem. The answer might be a new set of rubber feet or the surface on which the machine is sitting may not be level.

Until you get this figured out, you could simply hold the edge of the weight with your finger to keep the limit loop centered until the stylus drops into the groove. It should play OK after that. It is highly unlikely that the feedscrew has anything to do with your problem because that wouldn't cause it to skate to the left as it does. BTW: what type of cylinders are you playing?

Jim

I unfortunately only have one machine that plays two minute wax cylinders, and that is this one. This happens with essentially every type of cylinder that I play, including like new condition Edison black wax records. I just checked the rubber feet and they seem to be level.

-Steve

"The fishtail weight swings immediately to the left when I set down the reproducer on the smooth part of the cylinder"

You mean the part of the cylinder with no grooves at all? Not even the silent grooves? If so, don't do that. Start it in a groove while the limit loop is holding the weight central. Unless it's actually skipping out the groove to make its move to the left, it sounds kinda normal to me. These records aren't meant to start on the smooth, "grooveless" area, like discs are.

A few things come to mind here...#1. Make sure the "C" or "S" link connecting the stylus to the diaphragm is at least 9 millimeters long. #2. Check your Feedscrew rod and Feedscrew pickup for any signs of damage. #3. Make sure that the tension of the belt is correct. #4. Make sure the machine is well oiled. Those are good starting points. Try them, and report back..

)

Tony K.

Edison Collector/Restorer

Steve, Please post some pictures of the reproducer at various angles including the stylus bar. The reproducer limit loop pin while in playing position should remain at (or very near) the middle of the limit loop whether being lowered onto a blank area of a cylinder or on a playing groove presuming the cylinder is not out of round and is rotating evenly on the mandrel and the phonograph is level. The condition you are describing is definitely abnormal for a reproducer in good functioning condition. Something is surely not right so pictures may help in solving the problem. Also, if possible, please share a rear view picture of the reproducer mounted in the carriage and in playing position.

Thanks.

FellowCollector wrote:Steve, Please post some pictures of the reproducer at various angles including the stylus bar. The reproducer limit loop pin while in playing position should remain at (or very near) the middle of the limit loop whether being lowered onto a blank area of a cylinder or on a playing groove presuming the cylinder is not out of round and is rotating evenly on the mandrel and the phonograph is level. The condition you are describing is definitely abnormal for a reproducer in good functioning condition. Something is surely not right so pictures may help in solving the problem. Also, if possible, please share a rear view picture of the reproducer mounted in the carriage and in playing position.

Thanks.

Here are the pictures. I couldn't get any closer because my iphone absolutely refused to focus. Also there is a weird bug where the some of the pictures end up upside down when I upload to this website with pictures from an apple device.

Steve,

In order to learn more about your particular situation
with this Edison model C reproducer, I need to ask
you a few questions about it.

How long have you had this reproducer?
What is its history?
Has it been rebuilt?

I can very clearly see in one of your photographs of
the back view of it, that the weight is obviously
tilted. That tilt will indeed cause the skating to
the left. I know all about this because I too had one
that was doing the same thing as yours.

The problem with mine turned out to be a poorly
made reproduction hinge block that has the weight
hinge screw hole drilled at an angle, not parallel
with the surface of the record.

This problem was instantly corrected when a proper
original hinge block was installed in place of the
shoddily manufactured reproduction hinge block.

So, the big question right now is: Is the hinge block
in your Edison model C reproducer an original, or a
reproduction part?

Hmmmm...A quick look at the pictures reveals nothing really obvious that I see that is WAY out of whack. When the stylus is actually positioned in a cylinder groove during play are you hearing good sound?

To me it appears that the stylus may not be contacting the surface at the correct angle but it's difficult to tell in the pictures. If the stylus bar is contacting the cylinder surface even minutely rather than the stylus itself it could cause the weight to behave abnormally.

Additionally the limit loop pin appears to be very nearly touching the carriage eye but it may be the camera angle. Does this reproducer have an original stylus and bar? If so then, check the position of the stylus on the cylinder groove. It must be correct for the best results.

The weight looks a little cock-eyed also in one picture but doubtful IMHO that this could cause the issue in this instance. Be careful with adjusting the weight by bending the threaded pin on the hinge block to correct as it could snap (not good!) if it's original (ie. old and fragile)! I suspect the stylus is not contacting the cylinder surface correctly.

I have bent the hinge block in multiple ways and it has done nothing to solve the problem. The reproducer has been rebuilt but when I got it appears to have been untouched with the mica diaphragm and original gaskets in tact, but the machine did come with a shoddy repro horn, so I honestly have no idea what has been done to it. I have also checked the stylus and everything is in good working order there, I got it replaced last summer and when the reproducer is properly positioned it follows the grooves perfectly. The hinge block looks original, but something about it looks off. I am afraid to do anymore serious bending to it since I have done that dozens of times already to try and make the weight more level, but no matter what it always skates to the left. I have temporarily fixed the problem by shoving a tiny bit of paper towel underneath the weight next to the left side of the hinge block. This causes a slight amount of drag which prevents the reproducer from skating to the left. Looking back on the old post I wrote a couple years ago it appears that Chuck was the one who suggested this to me. Still, I don't know what could be causing this dilemma.

-Steve