Max Wurcker Reproducer for Edison Phonographs -- on UK ebay

[Dulcetto]

Hi Guys -- I note there's a Max Wurcker 2 minute reproducer for Edison phonographs on UK ebay right now. It is described as being Super - Rare .The seller is asking GBP275 to start the bidding. Does that seem a fair price ? Has anyone seen another of these sell recently ?? It does look from the pictures to be in really nice order. Apparently it has an unusually large neck size so that the horn used with it will need to have a larger than normal fitting , or was there a special adapter that could be bought ? Am I right that I have read somewhere these were made in Sydney , Australia ? I wonder how it ended up in the UK ! Dulcetto

[rgordon939]

Yes you are correct that these reproducers were made in Australia. There are several variations including 2-min, 4-min, and the very rare 2/4-minute version. I have several of them and am watching this one also. An issue I see with it is that you can see in picture 11 of the posting that the screws holding the top to the body are unscrewed and the top is not tight to the body. Additionally the screws themselves look wrong as the heads are to large. And yes they are louder than standard Edison reproducers. Here are a few from my reproducer collection.

Rich Gordon

[rgordon939]

I thought I would post this incase anyone in interested in Max Wurcker reproducers. There were seven types. I attached thier descriptions as listed in Michael Tucker's book " A Brief History of the Wurcker Reprodecer". There were 100 of these books printed, this is #14. I also love ncluded a picture of an original Wurcker horn.

Rich Gordon

[rgordon939]

I contacted the seller and he had taken the reproducer apart. The screws are not original and to long. The gaskets were replaced with a mete rial that was to thick and that's why he top doesn't fit all the way down.

Rich Gordon

[budsta]

I have one that has the same long screws serial no 433. The screws look identical to mine.
Another example has screws that are shorter and go down to the top of the body serial no 244.
Both of the examples above have the serial no stamped underneath
Example 1019 ( SN on top ) has the holes on top for the screws but no screws. They could be missing or around a transition period
The one on ebay has the correct stylus bar and the diaphragm is in nice shape. I've seen a few where the diaphragm has been damaged. The odd one with an Edison stylus bar
There have been a few on ebay in the early years but none for quite along time.
The price is probably about right from earlier sales.
The highest number I've seen is around 4200.

Regards
Stephen

[Dulcetto]

Thanks to Rich and Stephen for that info , that's really helpful. I didn't know there were so many variants of these reproducers as Rich points out.
I see the example on ebay has long size screws the same as one mentioned by Stephen , so although they do look a little odd , are probably original and correct. I have also contacted the seller to ask a question or two and he says he has tested this repro out and it works fine. I must say I am tempted and will be watching this one........ especially if as Stephen says there hasn't been one offered for a while ..... Dulcetto

[rgordon939]

Well that makes two of us who will be watching.

Rich Gordon

[rgordon939]

I have one that has the same long screws serial no 433. The screws look identical to mine.
Another example has screws that are shorter and go down to the top of the body serial no 244.
Both of the examples above have the serial no stamped underneath
Example 1019 ( SN on top ) has the holes on top for the screws but no screws. They could be missing or around a transition period
The one on ebay has the correct stylus bar and the diaphragm is in nice shape. I've seen a few where the diaphragm has been damaged. The odd one with an Edison stylus bar
There have been a few on ebay in the early years but none for quite along time.
The price is probably about right from earlier sales.
The highest number I've seen is around 4200.

Regards
Stephen

Here is another picture of some of my Max Wurcker reproducers. On the left is a 2/4 minute model an in the center is an early 2-min reproducer with the three screws. As you can see they have very small heads. The screw heads on the one for sale appear at least twice the size. Also if the top is on securely why are the threads on the screws still showing? What is holding the top tight?

Rich Gordon

[budsta]

Hi Rich
What's ther serial number of the unmarked one ?
That type pretty hard to get ?
Thanks
Stephen

[rgordon939]

The early Type-1 which has no markings other than the serial number is SN 159.

Rich Gordon